Patient Experiences After Risk-Reducing Mastectomy Among Women Carrying BRCA1/2 Pathogenic Variants Without a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes are most commonly associated with pathogenic variants in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which confer a significantly increased lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Women carrying these variants frequently face complex medical and psychological decisions regarding risk management strategies.

Among the available preventive options, risk-reducing mastectomy (MRR) represents one of the most effective strategies to significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer development. Several studies have demonstrated that prophylactic mastectomy can reduce the risk of breast cancer by more than 90% in mutation carriers. However, the decision to undergo MRR is highly personal and involves multiple dimensions including medical risk perception, psychological factors, family history, body image concerns, and expectations regarding reconstructive outcomes.

In recent years, increasing attention has been devoted not only to the clinical effectiveness of risk-reducing surgery but also to the psychological and quality-of-life outcomes experienced by women undergoing these procedures. Research has shown that while many patients report high levels of satisfaction after surgery, others may experience difficulties related to body image, sexual functioning, emotional adjustment, and expectations regarding surgical results.

The literature suggests that satisfaction after risk-reducing mastectomy is influenced by several factors including surgical technique, type of breast reconstruction, postoperative complications, preservation of breast sensitivity, partner support, and alignment between preoperative expectations and postoperative outcomes. Moreover, the psychological experience of women undergoing preventive surgery differs significantly from that of patients treated for an existing cancer diagnosis.

Despite growing international literature on this topic, data derived from the Italian context remain limited, particularly regarding patient-reported experiences and satisfaction following preventive mastectomy among women carrying hereditary cancer variants.

Understanding the experiences of women who have undergone MRR is crucial for improving counseling processes, enhancing shared decision-making, and optimizing multidisciplinary care for individuals with hereditary cancer risk.

For this reason, the present study aims to investigate the experiences, perceptions, and satisfaction of women carrying hereditary cancer variants who have undergone risk-reducing mastectomy.

Study rationale

Women carrying hereditary pathogenic variants often face a complex and emotionally challenging decision when considering preventive surgery. Although prophylactic mastectomy substantially reduces cancer risk, the intervention has profound implications for body image, sexuality, identity, and interpersonal relationships.

Clinical practice suggests that expectations prior to surgery may differ significantly from postoperative experiences. In particular, issues such as aesthetic outcome, loss or alteration of breast sensitivity, the need for multiple surgical procedures, and psychosocial adjustment can influence long-term satisfaction.

Furthermore, relational aspects such as partner support and stability of the couple relationship may play an important role in shaping the psychological adaptation to preventive surgery.

Exploring these aspects through patient-reported outcomes may provide valuable insights for clinicians involved in the management of hereditary cancer risk. Such knowledge may contribute to improving genetic counseling, surgical decision-making, and long-term psychosocial support for women undergoing preventive procedures.

The present study therefore aims to collect systematic data regarding the experiences of women who have undergone risk-reducing mastectomy, focusing on satisfaction, quality of life, body image perception, and relational aspects.

Study objectives Primary objective

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate patient satisfaction following risk-reducing mastectomy in women carrying hereditary breast and ovarian cancer variants.

Secondary objectives

Secondary objectives include:

investigating the relationship between surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction

exploring body image perception after preventive mastectomy

evaluating the impact of surgery on quality of life

analyzing the influence of partner support and couple relationship stability on postoperative adaptation

assessing the perceived impact of surgery on sexuality

identifying factors associated with higher or lower levels of postoperative satisfaction

exploring whether patients would recommend the procedure to other women facing similar decisions

Study design

This study is designed as a descriptive exploratory cross-sectional observational study conducted at a single national center.

The study will involve women carrying pathogenic hereditary cancer variants who have previously undergone risk-reducing mastectomy and who agree to participate by providing informed consent.

Participants will be invited to complete an online survey designed to collect information regarding their experiences with preventive surgery.

The survey will be developed using the REDCap electronic data capture platform, which allows secure management of research data and facilitates participation through remote completion.

Eligible participants will receive an invitation via email containing a secure link to access the survey.

The questionnaire will collect data regarding clinical, surgical, psychological, and relational aspects associated with the experience of preventive mastectomy.

Study population

The study population consists of women carrying pathogenic variants associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes who have undergone risk-reducing mastectomy.

Participants will be recruited among patients previously followed at the clinical center involved in the study.

Data collection

Data will be collected through a structured online survey consisting of multiple sections designed to explore various aspects of the participants' experiences.

The survey includes questions addressing:

motivations for choosing risk-reducing mastectomy

type of surgical procedure performed

type of breast reconstruction

postoperative complications

number of surgical procedures required to achieve the final result

presence or absence of residual breast sensitivity

perception of aesthetic outcome

satisfaction with the decision to undergo surgery

The survey also explores psychosocial aspects such as:

stability of the couple relationship

perceived partner support

impact of surgery on sexual life

psychological adaptation following surgery

Participants are also asked a key question regarding whether, in retrospect, they would make the same decision again and whether they would recommend the procedure to other women facing a similar situation.

Psychological assessment tools

The survey incorporates items derived from validated instruments used to assess body image and quality of life.

Specifically, selected items from the Body Image Scale, originally developed by Hopwood and colleagues and later translated and validated in Italian, have been adapted to assess body image perception in relation to risk-reducing mastectomy.

These questions evaluate aspects such as:

satisfaction with physical appearance

feelings of femininity

comfort with one's body

perception of physical changes following surgery

In addition, the final section of the survey includes the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12), a widely used instrument designed to measure health-related quality of life across both physical and mental health domains.

The inclusion of validated instruments allows for standardized assessment of psychological outcomes and facilitates comparison with existing research.

Data analysis

The study will primarily employ descriptive statistical analyses to summarize participant characteristics and responses to survey items.

Continuous variables will be described using measures such as means and standard deviations, while categorical variables will be summarized using frequencies and percentages.

Exploratory analyses may be conducted to investigate potential associations between variables such as surgical characteristics, relational factors, and levels of satisfaction.

These analyses aim to identify patterns that may contribute to a better understanding of patient experiences following preventive mastectomy.

Ethical considerations

Participation in the study will be entirely voluntary.

All participants will be required to provide informed consent prior to completing the survey.

Data will be collected anonymously and managed in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.

The use of the REDCap platform ensures secure storage of research data and controlled access for authorized study personnel.

Expected impact

The findings of this study may provide valuable insights into the experiences of women undergoing risk-reducing mastectomy in the context of hereditary cancer risk.

By exploring both clinical and psychosocial aspects of preventive surgery, the study may contribute to improving patient counseling, facilitating shared decision-making, and supporting the development of more patient-centered care pathways.

Understanding patient satisfaction and quality-of-life outcomes is essential for guiding clinicians in providing balanced information to individuals considering preventive surgery.

Furthermore, the results may help identify areas where additional psychosocial support may be beneficial for women undergoing this complex decision-making process.