Managing High Risk Patients
More frequent screening: The screening plan for a high risk individual with abnormal breast cancer gene has to be tailored. The screening generally starts before the age of 40. The plan involves screening tests twice in an year, alternating between a digital mammogram and an MRI scan.
Protective or prophylactic surgery: This involves removing the healthy breasts and ovaries before cancer is detected. With prophylactic breast surgery there is a 97% reduction in risk of developing breast cancer. The small risk that remains is due to few breast cells that remain in spite of mastectomy. Team of doctors at MACS clinic perform these surgeries with minimal access (laparoscopic) techniques giving almost normal look to the reconstructed breast.
Further, removal of ovary before menopause reduces the breast cancer risk by 50%. This works by reducing the hormone estrogen in blood. In addition, prophylactic removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes reduces the risk of ovarian. Team of doctors at MACS clinic perform removal of ovary by laparoscopy making it a simple painless procedure.
Prophylactic surgery decisions require a great deal of thinking, patience, and discussion with your doctors, genetic counselor, and family. The decision requires a tremendous amount of courage.