Fibrocystic Disease Treatment

I'm 23 and have Fibrocystic Breast Disease and run a high risk for breast cancer. I've had several biop's and my doctor is telling me to consider a subcutaneous mastectomy. I had neuroblastoma as a child and don't want to go through any type of cancer again. Is a mastectomy a extreme move or is there some other form of treatment you can recommend

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

Having fibrocystic disease alone does not necessarily put you at higher risk for cancer.  A strong family history of breast cancer or a positive genetic marker might lead you to consider some form of prophylactic procedure like subcutaneous mastectomy.  Assuming your physician is an expert in this area, he/she should be able to advise you about your alternatives including careful follow-up alone versus a surgical procedure like a subcutaneous mastectomy.  

[scootie203]

A related discussion, Cystic breasts disease and mastetomy followed by breast reconstruction was started.