Thanks so very much to all who have responded with very eloquent thoughts
for my client who has been advised to have a bilateral mastectomy as a
preventive measure against breast cancer.  Pat in SNJ mentioned gene
testing.  Client also mentioned this, saying that her own mother had refused
to have it done.  What is this test?  Can it show that a woman may be at
risk for breast cancer?  How reliable is it?  Even if one is genetically
pre-disposed to breast cancer, surely breastfeeding for an extended length
of time would help to reduce the risk?

Pamela, Zimbabwe