Breast Cancer Risk Reduction

Breast Cancer Risk Reduction

Your risk of breast cancer cannot be eliminated, but it can be reduced. Our team will work with you to find ways to reduce your risk. We will be with you every step of the way.

Breast Cancer Risk-Reduction Medications

If your risk of breast cancer is above average, certain medications can help lower your risk. These risk-reducing medications are approved for use in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Like most medications, these can cause side effects. Talk to your physician to see if risk-reduction medications are right for you.

Lifestyle Modifications

Your breast cancer risk is linked to your lifestyle. Here are some lifestyle modifications that can help reduce your risk:

• Exercise Most people benefit from 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. Discuss your exercise plan with your physician..
• Maintain a healthy weight. This is very important after menopause.
• Diet.There is no one-size-fits-all diet for breast cancer risk reduction. But there are studies that show the Mediterranean diet may be linked to reduced risk of breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet is mostly plant-based and high in whole grains, fruit and vegetables and non-animal protein.
• Talk to your physician about postmenopausal hormones. Many women use hormone therapy for managing the symptoms of menopause. This type of hormone therapy can increase your risk of breast cancer. Talk to your physician about how to manage breast cancer risk if you take hormones.
• Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol use increases levels of the hormone estrogen, which is associated with increased risk of breast cancer. You should avoid drinking alcohol.
• Stop smoking. Tobacco use has been linked to 15 different cancers, including breast cancer.

If you are at average risk, your primary care physician will help guide you through these lifestyle modifications. If you are at higher risk, you can also access resources from the Northwestern Medicine Breast Risk Assessment and Prevention Program.

Risk-Reduction Surgery

At Northwestern Medicine, you have options for surgical methods to reduce breast cancer risk. No matter what you choose, our board-certified breast surgeons will offer a compassionate approach with the latest technology.

Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy

(Bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy)

If you have high-risk genetic variants, like those in BRCA1 or BRCA2, but you have not had breast cancer, bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy may help reduce your breast cancer risk. It is sometimes used in other high-risk situations, as well, like if you have a strong family history of breast cancer. You should discuss this option carefully with your physician and care team.

There are 2 common approaches to this surgery:

• Total skin-sparing mastectomy: Both breasts are removed, including the nipples, but most of the breast skin is preserved for reconstruction.
• Nipple-sparing mastectomy: All possible breast tissue is removed, but the nipples are preserved.

If you have risk-reducing mastectomy, you may wish to have breast reconstruction. Our plastic surgery team will help you learn more about the many breast reconstruction options. You may also decide to have a risk-reducing mastectomy without reconstruction.

After a risk-reducing mastectomy, you may still have a small amount of breast tissue. You should continue to be aware of what’s normal for your breasts. You should also follow your physician’s recommendations for examination and screening.