Preventative Mastectomy?

Does anyone have any info on this? How much does it decrease your chances of getting cancer? I'm sorry if this sounds superficial but do they remove the nipples or do they do a simple mastectomy?

My mother died of breast cancer when she was in her early 50's. She was originally diagnosed with cancer in her early 40's. I have cancer on both sides. When my mom was in chemo her doctor reviewed some information she gave on intake and said that the brain cancer that killed my maternal and paternal grandmothers probably started in the breast but was undiagnosed (this was in the 1950's). I also have a paternal aunt who died of breast cancer and a maternal aunt dying of breast cancer. So I am not being alarmist, this is something that my doctor said I may want to think about and I am going to talk to a geneticist. I guess I just wonder if anyone has done this or knows where I can get more info.
Thanks!

I recommend these websites:

http://www.breastcancer.org
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk
http://www.phpbbserver.com/breastcancer/...

The first two are a mine of information and have forums where you can talk to women who are or have been in the same situation; breast cancer care has a genetics forum

The third is forums only, and has a genetics forum; several of the women using it have had this operation.

Your first question is not at all superficial and I'm sure you will get answers to it on the above sites.

Good luck

Liz, I struggled with the same issue for years. I pondered on it and got different suggestions....finally, I went to a genticist and was tested for the gene mutation that causes Breast Cancer. Thankfully, mine was negative.
That should always be your fist step, well, aside from yearly mammograms. I started at age 28, as my sister was diagnosed at 38.
Get a complete family history, including all cancers. Then, go to the Genetics doctor and get tested. From there, if it had been me, I would have had the surgery. Breast Cancer is a very scary thing, even though it is no longer an automatic death sentence.
To answer your questions more directly, from my research, the prophylactic mastectomy reduces your chances by up to 95% of getting breast cancer (if all tissue is removed). They do remove the nipples, but reconstructive surgery is always an option. During the reconstructive phase, they "tatoo" nipples back on.
The websites suggested are wonderful and I highly recommend them. I think you will find even a consultation appointment with the geneticist very helpful.. Definitely make a list of all your questions before you go so you don't forget anything.

Best of luck. I am putting you on my prayer list. I know how hard this is, but you are doing the right thing in thinking everything through and not letting fear get the upper hand!