What are risk-reducing surgeries for women with high breast cancer risk?

Risk-reducing surgeries for women with a high risk of breast cancer focus specifically on the surgical removal of breast tissue and/or ovaries to prevent the onset of cancer. Preventive mastectomy, which involves the removal of one or both breasts, significantly lowers the risk of developing breast cancer in women with genetic predispositions, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Similarly, oophorectomy, the surgical removal of one or both ovaries, also serves as a preventive measure because it reduces hormone levels that can fuel the growth of hormone-sensitive breast cancers. Women who undergo oophorectomy before menopause further decrease their breast cancer risk, as it leads to a significant drop in estrogen levels.

This dual approach to surgery directly addresses the elevated risk that certain women face and is an important component of comprehensive risk management for those with genetic or familial predispositions to breast cancer. Other options provided, such as chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, or diagnostic imaging, are not classified as risk-reducing surgeries, but rather as treatments, management strategies, or screening methods post-diagnosis.