Weighing the Pros and Cons of Preventive Breast Surgery

Breast cancer affects your breast tissue. If you have high genetic, hormonal, or lifestyle risks for breast cancer, at some point, you may consider having your breasts surgically removed in order to avoid cancer.

Any time you have major surgery, it’s a big decision. You may have strong personal emotions about breast surgery, or have concerns about the recovery you face after the procedure. It’s a decision only you can make, after getting informed and weighing all the pros and cons.

At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges and her team offer information, advice, and support to people contemplating preventive breast surgery. Dr. Bridges can perform your breast surgery at offices in Odessa or Midland, Texas. Here are some of the pros and cons of this procedure to consider as you make your decision.

Why you might need preventive breast surgery

For women, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer. Dr. Bridges specializes in breast cancer prevention, using tools like genetic screening to help you learn more about your risks. Dr. Bridges regularly checks for breast cancer during your well-woman exam, and encourages you to perform self-checks at home.

Several factors can increase your individual risk of breast cancer. These include:

• Genetic risks, which can be detected through genetic screening
• A family history of breast cancer
• Environmental exposure to carcinogens

Dr. Bridges helps you understand your risks and make the prevention plan that’s right for you.

The pros and cons of preventive breast surgery

The downsides of breast surgery are relatively easy to see. For one thing, surgery comes with its own health risks. It’s never a small decision to go under the knife. You also have to deal with post-surgery recovery, which can take time. And, many women have emotional responses to the idea of breast removal.

However, preventive breast surgery is a primary form of treatment for breast cancer. While this may seem like an extreme step, preventive breast surgery is the best way to protect yourself from breast cancer and gain peace of mind, especially if you’re high-risk.

Making the choice to go ahead with breast surgery on your own terms may be what saves you from having to make other cancer-related decisions, and facing more immediate health risks, down the road. You can recover from breast surgery without the added stress of cancer treatment, and live with reduced worry around your cancer risk in the future.

Supporting you through breast surgery

If Dr. Bridges discovers abnormal breast tissue that’s confirmed with a biopsy, you have additional choices ahead of you. You might opt for breast-conserving surgery, requesting that Dr. Bridges remove all cancerous tissue while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, followed by radiation therapy. Or, you may decide to go ahead with a full mastectomy.

Preventive breast surgery works best to protect you from future cancer when all breast tissue is removed. In a full mastectomy, Dr. Bridges removes your entire breast and all the surrounding tissue. You can undergo breast reconstructive surgery, if desired, after a mastectomy.

As you weigh your choices, Dr. Bridges provides ongoing support. For compassionate, informed breast cancer care and prevention contact Dr. Bridges and the OB/GYN team at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin. Schedule your initial consultation appointment online or over the phone today.