Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - Researchers have identified certain risk factors which can help breast cancer patients decide if it is right to have a double mastectomy, having their second breast removed as a precaution to avoid a future tumor.

When a woman goes through breast cancer treatment and has a mastectomy, they are often given the choice as to whether or not they want to do both breasts.

The idea behind this decision is that by removing the second breast, it can help prevent another cancer tumor from developing.

Risk factors have been named by researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center after a study on roughly 550 women was carried out.

Women who have these risk factors may want to seriously consider having their second breast removed as a precaution.

Risk factors include invasive lobular breast cancer, having more than one tumor in the same breast, and having having a high Gail model score.

The study hsa been published in the journal Cancer.