careful observation, medications to decrease estrogen, or some women might opt for surgery to remove the breasts (prophylactic mastectomy). Decisions are made after discussion
and weighing of risks
and benefits for the individual patient. Several factors such as estrogen receptor status, age, and menopausal status, risk factors (strong family history, BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations) are taken into account in this risk/benefit discussion.