Hereditary breast cancer is a sword of Damocles

During a preventive mastectomy, the mammary gland tissue is removed, but not the lymph nodes in the armpits. The nipple is sometimes removed and sometimes not; this can be discussed in advance with the surgeon or oncologist. In the case of amputation of smaller breasts, it is more often opted to keep the nipples, as blood flow is better guaranteed compared to larger cup sizes. In the latter case, a breast reduction can possibly be performed first, and in a second surgery the amputation with preservation of the nipples. Sometimes immediate reconstruction is performed during the same surgery, for example by inserting two silicone breast prostheses. The result of immediate reconstruction saves surgery and the shock after waking up is less, but the risk of complications, such as post-bleeding, is slightly greater.

Hereditary breast cancer

Five to 10 percent of all breast cancers are hereditary.Hereditary breast canceris caused the presence of a well-defined defective gene. If you inherit that gene from your father or mother, you are at a very high risk for breast cancer. Two breast cancer genes have been described: BRCA1 (breast cancer 1) and BRCA2 (breast cancer 2). Because of this high risk, many carriers choose to have both breasts amputated preventively. Your risk of breast cancer drops to almost zero (there will always be some breast cells left behind). Those who find that too drastic can opt for a six-monthly screening examination.

Familial breast cancer

Ninety to ninety-five percent of all breast cancers are not hereditary, but some of them are familial. Familial breast cancer means that you yourself are more at risk of breast cancer if your mother and/or sister had breast cancer at a young age (before menopause), without being a carrier of a breast cancer gene. In those cases, some familial predisposition comes into play. Your risk is not nearly as high as with hereditary breast cancer, and preventive amputations are obviously out of the question here. However, you are extra alert when a first-degree relative has or has had breast cancer at a younger age.

Are you alert for the signs of breast cancer? Find out through theMammoquiz.