Many individuals in the medical profession chalk disease up to genetics. And that is fair. Genetics play a big role. Yet studies continue to show that our lifestyle choices, although not 100 percent foolproof, play a huge role in making our genes for disease present themselves.

Women with breast cancer should be helped to clearly understand what can and cannot be achieved by prophylactic bilateral mastectomy and the potentially significant risks of the procedure. Doctors, in turn, should accept that a reduction in fear is a worthwhile goal in cancer treatment.

* Research maps genetic codes of 21 breast cancers * Helps scientists understand how disease evolves * Raises hopes of e...