Breast reconstruction is more connected to breast cancer prevention (and early detection) than you might think. Quality breast reconstruction options give patients the space to take risk-reducing actions that they might have otherwise avoided. This is particularly relevant amongst patients with an unusually high-risk of developing breast cancer, sometimes known as previvors.
The current population risk for breast cancer in the United States is 12.9-percent. Previvors have a medically determined risk assessment that exceeds that number. That assessment means additional screenings, preparation, and big decisions. You can learn more about previvors here.
Read on to learn more about breast reconstruction’s role in screening and prevention.
Reconstruction options help manage some of the stress of screening.
Make no mistake: breast cancer screening is inherently stressful. Whether you’re of unusually high risk or simply in the typical screening age bracket, this vital practice is emotionally challenging. However, some patients do find some comfort knowing what their next steps might be if they were to face a diagnosis. Knowing your options, start-to-finish, is one way to take control of a nerve-racking situation.
Informed patients have more emotional and intellectual resources to make confident choices if they are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Understanding the breast reconstruction techniques available helps patients plan ahead to avoid making decisions under duress after a diagnosis. A breast cancer diagnosis often comes with an overwhelming number of choices. From choosing doctors to evaluating treatment options to planning your day-to-day life amid medical turmoil, the entire process is mentally and emotionally demanding. While it can be difficult to anticipate treatment needs, as even cancers detected early vary genetically, patients can prepare themselves for breast reconstruction. By learning their options and evaluating which might be best for them, they set themselves up for easier decisions down the line.
Risk-reducing mastectomies are the most proactive step available to high-risk patients.
Patients who wish to dramatically reduce their risk often choose to have risk-reducing mastectomies. High quality breast reconstruction options and breast neurotization techniques make this option less daunting for many patients looking to move forward with their lives with less worry. There are lots of ways to approach risk-reducing decisions. You do not need to know what you want before you explore what’s available or even begin to prepare for possible breast reconstruction. Risk-reducing procedures are not right for everyone; knowing your options is the first step toward determining whether they are right for you.
