| Over 200,000 women this year will be diagnosed with | | | | diagnosed but have a strong family history of the |
| breast cancer. Of those 200,000 more than 40,000 | | | | disease are opting to get the procedure done. This |
| of them will die. Breast Cancer can be defined as a | | | | has many researchers concerned. The reason for |
| malignant tumor that is found in the breast(s). No one | | | | concern is because having the procedure does not |
| knows for sure what causes the cancer. For a small | | | | guarantee that they will not get the disease. Also |
| percentage of people it is hereditary. If one or more | | | | studies are inconclusive as to the effect removing |
| women in your family has gotten breast cancer then | | | | both breast will be. |
| there is a greater risk for you to get it as well. For | | | | The decision to have this procedure done is a difficult |
| that reason many women are opting to take | | | | one for many women to make. It doesn't come |
| preventative measures. | | | | without complications. Some potential complications |
| Preventive mastectomy is when women who are | | | | include infection, damage to nerves, and significant |
| diagnosed with breast cancer in a single breast decide | | | | bleeding. Not only that but there is still a possibility |
| to have both breast removed. The women who | | | | that the may still get the cancer and it may have no |
| typically opt to do this are those in the high risk | | | | impact on their long term survival. |
| category such as those with a family history. | | | | Although it is a difficult decision and a high risk one at |
| Preventive mastectomies are becoming more | | | | that most women do not regret having it done. |
| common researchers show. What is also becoming | | | | October is breast cancer awareness month. Support |
| more common is women who have not yet been | | | | the cause and help find a cure today. |