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In women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations or whose family histories indicate high risk for breast cancer, bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) attenuates breast cancer incidence and risk for death. From 1997 to 2005, Swedish investigators administered questionnaires to assess body image, sexuality, mood, and quality of life in women before BPM and at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Fifty-six women responded to all three questionnaires. Of the responders, 71% were aged 30 to 49 at the time of BPM.
Reports of perceived femininity, physical and social activities, reactions to intimate situations, and ability to work were similar for all three survey times. Many participants reported body-image concerns: Slightly fewer than half the respondents n…