Mastectomies are a surgical procedure used to prevent breast cancer. However, a recent study has concluded that many women may be overestimating their risk for the disease, and therefore opting for mastectomies in order to reduce their chance of getting breast cancer.

In this study, the researchers interviewed 75 women who underwent preventive mastectomies from 1991 to 2000. With the information they received from the interviews, the researchers calculated each woman's risk of breast cancer and compared their calculations to each woman's estimate.

They found that only women who knew they had a specific genetic mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes (these genes have been linked to a dramatic increased risk in breast and ovarian cancers) estimated their risk anywhere close to a computer calculation. The women with these genetic mutations estimated their lifetime risk was around 79 percent, while a computer program calculated their risk at about 65 percent.

Women without these genetic mutations, however, estimated their risk to be about 75 percent, while the computer model put their risk at 17 percent. The researchers feel this large gap in perceived and calculated risk stems from lack of education about the disease.

The researchers feel that genetic counseling, plus information about the risks and benefits of all strategies to reduce the risk of breast cancer may be the key to reducing this large gap in knowledge.

Part of the problem may be the positive numbers that are associated with preventive mastectomy; a recent study at the Mayo Clinic concluded that the surgery can reduce the risk of breast cancer by more than 80 percent in women with a family history of the disease. Though the surgery is major, some women choose the peace of mind that comes after the surgery.

Although some women may feel safer post-surgery, there is still a risk of developing cancer in the mammary cells that are left, as surgeons can't remove all mammary cells.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute September 2002; 94:1564-1569

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Choosing surgery over lifestyle approaches does not seem like the wisest approach here. There are a number of very clear factors that are related to breast cancer that can more than normalize the effect of inheriting a few genes.

Fish oil and omega-3 fats are a powerful way to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Cod liver oil would be the ideal source for most women in the winter as it also supplies vitamin D, which has been clearly linked to breast cancer reduction.

Normalizing vitamin D levels by aggressively monitoring one's blood level of vitamin D makes far more sense than letting a surgeon remove your breasts.

Exercise is also profoundly useful for decreasing the risk of breast cancer.

While there is little question that certain genes are associated with an increased risk of cancer, I would never recommend that anyone get tested for them as it can not possibly do any good.

There is a basic and profoundly powerful truth in life, which is that your consistent thoughts become your reality. If someone tests positive for the breast cancer gene, their continuous thoughts will be focused on their fear of breast cancer, and their subconscious minds will faithfully manipulate their physiology to produce exactly what they are thinking about.

This is one of the reasons why fear is such a devastatingly negative influence in one's life as it will frequently facilitate acquiring the very thing one is fearful of.

Fortunately EFT seems to be a very powerful and effective way to break out of this vicious cycle. If you have any fear about this issue I would strongly encourage you to use the Free Manual. This valuable tool has been recently updated to make it easier than ever to use effectively.

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