Erin Hofstatter on Counseling Patients at High-Risk for Breast Cancer on Preventive Mastectomy

Erin Hofstatter, MD, from Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Medical School discusses the risks and benefits that should be told to a patient at high-risk for breast cancer considering preventive surgery.

While preventive mastectomy can offer a better quality of life and almost entirely remove the risk of cancer, there are considerable risks to consider. With surgery, there is a lengthy recovery period, the potential for complications, and cosmetic issues that can arise. Hofstatter stresses that it is a big decision and is the best choice for some patients, but not all.