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When there is a high risk of breast/ovarian cancer in a family, what do you recommend: vigilance or action?

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Topics (Tags):

Breast Cancer Breast Cancer High Risk Ovarian Cancer High Risk Ovarian Cancer

Topics:

Breast Cancer X Breast Cancer High Risk X Ovarian Cancer High Risk X Ovarian Cancer X

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Diseases:

Breast Cancer Ovarian Cancer

Diseases:

Breast Cancer Ovarian Cancer X

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Answers (1)

MelanieBoneMD (Physician - OBGYN - Obstetrics-Gynecology (Verified) ) - 01 / 26 / 2012

Another great question. It depends on the patient and her level of anxiety. Years ago I was uniformly aggressive in my recommendations. Having survived Stage lll breast cancer myself, I was fully in favor of bilateral mastectomies. As I have aged and met more patients I will share with you that my attitude is a little different. If the patient is not ready to have both her breasts removed then she should not be pressured to have mastectomies. With a combination of breast exams by professionals, MRIs, mammograms and sonograms, these patients can be followed closely until one of two things happens: the patient develops cancer and then the decision is not so much elective as therapeutic, or, if she cannot tolerate the stress of the vigilance and then is ready to undergo more definitive surgery to prevent cancer. In my 20+ year career as a physician, I have rarely met a patient who regretted having bilateral mastectomies, but many who regretted not doing so. As for the ovaries, I remain aggressive. If the patient has a high risk of cancer, I explain that vigilance is far from perfect and the hormonal function of the ovaries can be replaced a number of ways, but ovarian cancer is very difficult to cure.

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Question Statistics

Latest Activity: 01 / 26 / 2012
Views: 252
Followed By: 2 members