Mastectomy not a must to avoid breast cancer   

香港医生：切乳防癌做法属个别例子 莫乱效法

近日带有高危乳癌基因的美国著名女影星安祖莲娜祖莉(Angelina Jolie)公布她为防乳癌而切除双乳。对此，16日，香港临床肿瘤科专科医生蔡浩强表示，其切乳防癌的做法属于个别例子，不是每位带有高危乳癌基因的妇女都有需要。

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.