I have Atypical Hyperplasia and I feel like I'm carrying a time bomb around because of it.

I am 39 and was diagnosed with ADH in June when I had a lump mammo'd which revealed microcalcification which revealed a Radial Scar which I had to have removed from my left breast.  The lump turned out to be hormonal breast tissue and the microcalcification came back benign. The Radial Scar biopsy revealed the ADH.  I had a Great Aunt on my mother's side who died from breast cancer and a few Aunts who have had biopsies done and "benign lumps removed".  I am overweight and have been all of my life.  I have been told by Doctors that I have very dense breast tissue.  A family friend who has a history of breast cysts was diagnosed with ADH at the same time as me and she is actually scheduled for a double prophylactic mastecomy.  Talking between her and I, I don't think that our risks are much different.  Should I consider a mastectomy too.  How is this determined?  How much of it is doctor's opinion?  Is there a hard "formula" for deciding risk scale?  Like I stated before.  I am completely freaked out and I truely feel like I am carrying around a time bomb and just waiting for it to explode. Please help me make some sense out of this.  I am prepared to do whatever I need to do to prevent myself from getting cancer.  I lost my father to lung cancer in Nov. 09 and I don't want to go through what he went through.  I just want to know everything I can know to make the best desicion.  I am afraid of it not being taken seriously enough because everything that I have read seems very "politically correct" as not to panic anyone.  I want straight answers minus candy coating and patronizing.

[japdip]

As a rule the treatment for ADH is surgical removal of the area, obtaining clean margins. Sometimes following the excision additional treatment may be advised such as Radiation and/or Tamoxifen. A diagnosis of ADH only increases your risk of developing breast cancer sometime in the future. You should NEVER make comparisons with another person as each and every case is different and you may not know all the details of the other person's situation. There would have to be other factors involved to consider a Bilateral Mastectomy for a diagnosis of ADH. If your Dr. is not a Breast Specialist then you might consider consulting someone with that Specialty. Regards .....