Mastectomy not a must to avoid breast cancer   

香港醫生：切乳防癌做法屬個別例子 莫亂效法

近日帶有高危乳癌基因的美國著名女影星安祖蓮娜祖莉(Angelina Jolie)公布她為防乳癌而切除雙乳。對此，16日，香港臨床腫瘤科專科醫生蔡浩強表示，其切乳防癌的做法屬于個別例子，不是每位帶有高危乳癌基因的婦女都有需要。

Hong Kong (CNS) — Not every woman who carries breast cancer genes needs to undergo a pre-cancer mastectomy like Angelina Jolie, and her case is just an isolated one, said Choi Ho Keung, a clinical oncologist in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Jolie carries a gene called BRCA1, which dramatically increases a woman's risk for developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Choi points out that the gene put Jolie at an 87 percent risk of getting breast cancer. Before the surgery, she also underwent genetic testing and psychological counseling.

It is a brave and wise decision for Jolie to get the pre-cancer mastectomy, but it is not a must for other women who carry the breast cancer gene, according to Choi.

Regular physical examinations, a healthy lifestyle, and drug treatment can also help women avoid breast cancer, Choi added.