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Prophylactic oophorectomy: Preventing cancer by surgically removing your ovaries

Why might a woman opt for oophorectomy over mastectomy?

Reasons a woman might choose oophorectomy over mastectomy include:

  • Oophorectomy reduces your risk of two cancers. Oophorectomy reduces your risk of both breast cancer and ovarian cancer, while mastectomy reduces only the risk of breast cancer.
  • There aren't many options for preventing ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is sometimes seen as a greater threat than breast cancer because it isn't easily detected, and it may be detected at a later stage when diagnosed. There are tests, such as mammograms and breast MRIs, to detect breast cancer at an early stage in very high-risk women.
  • Removing your ovaries doesn't affect your appearance. Some women are concerned about how they'll look if they have their breasts removed. Oophorectomy won't affect your appearance.

These benefits have to be balanced against the risks of oophorectomy and the early menopause that occurs as a result.