Bilateral breast cancer.

The true incidence of bilateral breast cancer, both simultaneous and subsequent, is higher than older statistics indicate, and the frequency can be expected to increase as more efficient methods of detection and treatment become commonplace. Furthermore, there is a subgroup of patients who have an especially high risk for having a second primary cancer in the other breast; if such a cancer develops it deleteriously influences the survival of the patient. A rational approach to the management of the other breast is presented using contralateral biopsy as an added modality for detection and reserving prophylatic matectomy of the other breast for those patients who ar at high risk for developing cancer in it.