Management of familial breast cancer. II. Case reports, pedigrees, genetic counseling, and team concept.

The lack of therapeutic progress, coupled with limitations in early breast cancer diagnostic surveillance, suggest the need for innovative control programs for this disease. We have provided certian practical criteria for prophylactic subcutaneous mastectomy based on family history, presence of precancerous diseases of the breast, and other breast cancer risk factors, and the attitudes, feelings, and emotional aspects of the patient, all of which temper decisions for the type of cancer surveillance program and/or prophylactic surgery.