Looks like you’re visiting UCSF Health on Internet Explorer. For the best experience, try Chrome or Firefox.

UCSF Health
Popular Searches
University of California San Francisco
  • Conditions & Treatments
    Conditions & Treatments
    EPILEPSY BREAKTHROUGH

    Stopping Seizures Before They Start

    • Find Conditions

    • Find Treatments

    • Clinical Trials

    • Patient Education

    • Medical Tests

  • Doctors
    Doctors
    MEET OUR DOCTORS
    Dr. Jasleen Kukreja and the Life-Saving Gift of Breath
    • Find a Doctor

    • Doctor Stories

    • Get a Second Opinion

  • Clinics & Locations
    Clinics & Locations
    BAKAR PRECISION CANCER MEDICINE BUILDING
    Care, Convenience and Support at New Cancer Facility
    • Find a Clinic

    • Locations & Directions

    • Partners & Affiliates

    • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital – Oakland

    • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital – San Francisco

  • Patients & Visitors
    Patients & Visitors
    KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
    10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Visit
    • Your Hospital Stay

    • For Visitors

    • International Patients

    • For Caregivers

    • Support, Services & Groups

    • Billing & Insurance

    • Pricing Transparency

    • 340B Drug Pricing Program

    • Medical Records

    • Patient Relations

  • Why Choose Us?
    Why Choose Us?
    U.S. News Best Hospital Rankings
    UCSF Health Ranked Among Nation's Top 10 Hospitals
    • Our Mission

    • Quality of Patient Care

    • Patient Stories

    • Embracing Diversity

    • Our Leadership

  • Refer a Patient
  • MyChart
  • Request Appointment
  • Get a Second Opinion
  • Call us: (888) 689-8273
University of California San Francisco
Patient Education

Taking Charge: If You Are at High Risk for Breast Cancer

Related Conditions
Breast Cancer
Ovarian Cancer

Preventive Treatment Options for High Risk Women

Tamoxifen

This anti-estrogen drug has been used for many years to treat breast cancer. A recent study — the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial — found that women at high risk for breast cancer who took the drug were less likely to develop tumors. After an average of four years of taking tamoxifen, these women had 45 percent fewer breast cancers than women with the same risk factors who did not take the drug.

A woman's decision about whether to take tamoxifen should consider both these benefits and the risks associated with the drug, which include an increased chance of developing uterine cancer.

Prophylactic (Preventive) Mastectomy

Some women with a very high risk of developing breast cancer may choose to have one or both breasts surgically removed. These include women with mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, a previous history of breast cancer, breast cancer in several close relatives, or a biopsy showing Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (a condition that is a marker for the potential development of invasive cancer).

Even a highly skilled breast surgeon cannot remove all the breast tissue from the chest, however, so a few women who have a preventive mastectomy still do get breast cancer. The decision to have this type of surgery must be made with a great deal of thought to the individual woman's situation. Women who consider this prevention strategy should be sure to talk to several doctors before proceeding, and evaluate the medical and emotional consequences of the surgery.

Continue reading

Read More

  • Next section of Taking Charge: Screening for Breast Cancer

Return to the Taking Charge Index

  • What Is Breast Cancer?
  • Who Gets Breast Cancer?
  • If You Are at High Risk for Breast Cancer
  • Screening for Breast Cancer
  • How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
  • How Is Breast Cancer Treated?
  • What Is Ovarian Cancer?
  • Who Gets Ovarian Cancer?
  • If You Are at High Risk for Ovarian Cancer
  • Screening for Ovarian Cancer
  • How Is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed?
  • How is Ovarian Cancer Treated?
  • Living With Cancer
  • Diet, Lifestyle and Cancer
  • Glossary of Terms

UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.

Recommended reading

Basic Facts About Breast Health

Learn basic facts about breast structure and function and how to differentiate between the different types and stages of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Glossary

Check out our comprehensive Glossary of Breast Cancer terminology, which includes definitions of everything from AC chemotherapy to peripheral neuropathy.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Click now to find a summary of the factors that increase risk for developing breast cancer, including both factors that we cannot change and those we can.

Self-Care and Recovery

Self-Care and recovery resources including an Introduction to Lifestyle Change, Nutrition and Breast Cancer, Hydration: Water and Health, Meditation and more.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction, surgery to rebuild a breast's shape, is often an option after mastectomy and is covered by some health insurance plans. Learn more now.

Follow-Up Care for Breast Cancer Patients

After patients have completed treatment for early stage breast cancer, one of the common questions is, "How should I best be monitored?" Learn more here.

Mastectomy: Instructions Before Surgery

The following information will help you prepare for your upcoming Mastectomy surgery. If you have any questions, please contact the Breast Care Center staff.

Mastectomy: Instructions After Surgery

Post Mastectomy surgery instructions including, pain management, incision and dressing care, activity, diet, follow-up care and more.

Menopause and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer treatment often causes women to enter menopause prematurely. Although each woman reacts to therapy individually, certain side effects are common.

Metastatic Breast Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment

Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that originated in the breast and has spread to other organ systems in the body. Learn more here.

Navigating Your Path to Breast Care

Different services and information are needed at different points in breast health care and breast cancer treatment. Learn more here.

Osteoporosis and Breast Cancer

Women who have had breast cancer or are considered at high risk for developing breast cancer are at risk for developing osteoporosis. Learn more.

Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

The UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center and the Department of Radiation Oncology have compiled information about radiation therapy for your convenience.

Related clinics

View map Check insurance coverage

Breast Care at Greenbrae

1100 S. Eliseo Dr., Suite 1
Greenbrae, CA 94904

(415) 353-7070
Hours: Th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center

Bakar Precision Cancer Medicine Building

1825 Fourth St., Third Floor
San Francisco, CA 94158

(415) 353-7070
M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Gynecologic Surgical Oncology Clinic

Bakar Precision Cancer Medicine Building

1825 Fourth St., Sixth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94158

(415) 353-9600
M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Attention: Masks On!

If you're a patient or visitor in one of our hospitals or clinics, you are required to wear a mask.

Find out why masking is so important
Did you know?

Cutting-edge techniques for mapping the human brain – developed by UCSF neurologists – help us locate language, motor and sensory functions and make surgery safer, more precise and less invasive. Brain mapping may one day lead to therapies for restoring healthy brain circuitry in patients with epilepsy, depression, stroke and other conditions.

UCSF Health
Follow UCSF Health:
Getting Care
  • Find a Doctor
  • Emergency Care
  • Primary Care
  • All Medical Services
  • International Services
Getting Involved
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Join Our Team
About Us
  • Locations & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Patient Relations
  • Report Misconduct
  • Quality of Patient Care
  • Crisis Standards of Care
  • Our Organization
  • News Center
  • Notice of Privacy Practices
Research and Education
  • Clinical Trials
  • UC San Francisco
  • UCSF School of Medicine
  • UCSF School of Nursing
  • UCSF School of Pharmacy
Referring Physicians
  • Refer a Patient
  • Transfer a Patient
  • MDLink
  • Request a Consultation
  • Video Center
Follow UCSF Health:
© 2002 - 2021. The Regents of The University of California.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Some stock photos, posed by model.

Share

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email Link
  • Copy Link