Current Approach to Breast Cancer Risk Reduction for Women with Hereditary Predispositions to Breast Cancer

Risk reduction strategies for women at an increased risk for breast cancer include prophylactic mastectomy, prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy, and chemoprevention. These techniques have been well studied in certain high-risk populations such as women with significant family histories of breast cancer and women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Rapid evolution in genetic testing technology has enabled increased access and ability to analyze genes associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. These genes include but are not limited to BRCA1 and BRCA2. This technological progress has expanded the definition and number of women classified as having a genetic predisposition to breast cancer; however, literature specifically evaluating efficacy of breast cancer risk reduction strategies in this expanded population does not yet exist. In order to appreciate the effectiveness of risk-reducing strategies for women with a hereditary predisposition to breast cancer, we provide an overview of current literature and recommendations for risk-reducing mastectomy, risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, and chemoprevention in the high-risk breast cancer population.