Prophylactic surgery as a preventive measure for breast and ovarian hereditary cancer

Abstract

Prophylactic surgery has become a very useful prevention tool for women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Both prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy are considered as aggressive methods and women who are considering this procedure must have a very difficult decision making process to decide which preventive measures they choose. Both surgeries have demonstrated their efficacy to reduce cancer risk, but not to eliminate risk completely. This procedures may produce a negative impact on this women who undergone it, so it is necessary to assess every women who is considering this option and the psychological impact that it may produce.
In this paper we try to review the state of art about psychological impact of prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy, and the most important issues that must be considered by women that are thinking about this surgery. Issues like efficacy, quality of life, satisfaction with the procedure and most important negative surgery effects are included in this paper.