LCIS/ADH

[Lois428]

I have recently been diagnosed with LCIS, ADH in two areas and papilomatosis with a strong immediate family history of breast and ovarian cancer.  From the beginning I have thought about a prophylatic bi-lateral mastectomy.  Is a prophylatic bi-lateral mastectomy unreasonable?  I too have had many different opions from oncology surgeons and oncologists.
Lois


This discussion is related to LCIS.

[Lois428]

Guess I should have stated that I had the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 tests done and they came back negative. I really don't want to take the tamoxifen or raloxifen.  Is the prophylactic bilateral mastectomy a reasonable option for a pathology report of ADH, LCIS, papilomatosis and a strong immediate family history of breast cancer, colon cancer and ovarian cancer?
Lois

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

I understand your concern.  Presently there is no definite consensus regarding this matter.  If you have a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer, then you might want to be tested genetically for the presence of BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes.  These genes, if present would really put you at high risk of developing an invasive breast cancer, and this might strengthen your position to have a bilateral mastectomy done.  A numerical risk can also be computed and I think that if your risk is more than about 5%, then a bilateral mastectomy can be done.  You can discuss these options with your surgeons and oncologists.  Regards.