When Prophylactic Mastectomy Is a Good Option: Stories of 2 High-Risk Women

• Liz Perri lost her mom to breast cancer—her mother was just 39—so she got the BRCA test herself when she was 26, in February 2008. The Chicago native decided in advance that if she did have the gene mutations, she'd get a preventative double mastectomy. "If I tested positive, I knew I had to do something," says Perri.

Thankfully, the results came back negative, and Perri was able to shelve the surgery. But because of her family history, she still has a higher-than-average chance of getting breast cancer. That's the main reason she enrolled to be part of a cutting-edge early detection program through the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The screening regimen involves various combinations of MRIs, mammograms, and ultrasounds every six months.

If you're from a high-risk family and are considering the BRCA test, start by reviewing the pros and cons, then discuss options with your doctor or a genetic counselor.