Long-term Satisfaction and Psychological and Social Function Following Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

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Abstract
Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, the preventive removal of breast tissue, is an option for women at high risk for breast cancer. Recent data from the Mayo Clinic showed that the procedure lowers the incidence of breast cancer by approximately 90% among women with a family history of breast cancer.1 These results underscore the need for data on morbidities associated with prophylactic mastectomy. Specifically, information regarding satisfaction and psychological and social function needs to be assessed to provide women and their physicians the information they need to make appropriate health care decisions.