Pre-emptive mastectomy cuts cancer risk by 99%

WOMEN born with the high-risk breast cancer gene have been given a 99% chance of remaining free of tumours if they have a double mastectomy.

Yesterday, the EU breast cancer conference in Berlin heard from scientists who advised women with the gene to have their breasts removed as a precaution.

The advice was based on a long-term study of 250 women by the Netherlands Cancer Institute.