Finding out you’re at increased risk for future breast cancer due to your family history or a genetic mutation (or both), can be really overwhelming. Here are some steps that may help you come up with a plan that feels right to you and lets you feel more in control of your health and body.
First, a genetic counselor and/or high-risk breast specialist can help you really understand your risk of breast cancer and any other cancers that you might have to think about. They can talk to you about screening and prevention plans, which could range from more frequent imaging studies and exams to considering taking hormone-blocking medication or prophylactic mastectomy.
Knowing what your surveillance plan looks like can help you make a decision about if and when you want to think about having prophylactic mastectomies.
Next, if at all possible, find a surgeon who specializes in breast surgery and routinely does mastectomies. Nearly all women having prophylactic mastectomies are candidates for nipple-sparing mastectomies if they would like to save their nipples, which has been shown in multiple studies to be safe in women at high risk for breast cancer due to family history or genetic mutations.