More Women at Higher Risk of Breast Cancer Should Consider Preventive Mastectomy

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have conducted an analysis that suggests more women at higher risk of breast cancer should be offered a mastectomy. According to the study published in JAMA Oncology, mastectomy is a cost-effective way to reduce the likelihood of developing breast cancer compared to breast screening and medication. The current guidelines on who should be offered mastectomy may need to be revised to reflect these new findings. This could potentially prevent 6,500 breast cancer cases annually in the UK.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that mastectomy is a cost-effective treatment for women aged 30 or above with a lifetime breast cancer risk greater than or equal to 35%.
  • The researchers used a new economic evaluation model to accurately predict the level of risk that would make mastectomy a more cost-effective treatment.
  • The model showed that offering mastectomy to women in this cohort could prevent 6,500 of the 58,500 cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year in the UK.
  • The study's results could have significant clinical implications to expand access to mastectomy beyond those patients with known genetic susceptibility in high penetrance genes.
  • The researchers suggest that more research is carried out to evaluate the acceptability, uptake, and long-term outcomes of mastectomy among this group.
  • The study found that mastectomy is cost-effective for women aged 30-55 years with a lifetime breast cancer risk of 35% or more.

Statistics:

  • 58,500: the number of cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year in the UK.
  • 6,500: the number of breast cancer cases that could be prevented annually in the UK if more women at higher risk are offered mastectomy.
  • 30 or above: the minimum age for women to be considered for mastectomy based on the economic evaluation model.
  • 35% or more: the minimum lifetime breast cancer risk for women to be considered for mastectomy.
  • £30,000: the willingness to pay threshold for a treatment to be deemed cost-effective, as determined by NICE.
  • 20-55 years: the age range of women in the study who were considered for mastectomy.

Sources:

  • "When should preventive mastectomy be offered for women at higher risk of breast cancer?" (July 25, 2022). Queen Mary University of London. Web: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2025/medicine-and-dentistry/fmd/when-should-preventive-mastectomy-be-offered-for-women-at-higher-risk-of-breast-cancer.html.
  • JAMA Oncology. "Risk-Reducing Mastectomy for Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer." (2022).