Preventive Surgery for Mutation Carriers
Posted 9/17/2010
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Ever since the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes were identified, women who carry the mutation have been advised to consider prophylactic mastectomies and oophoreectomies (ovaries out). A recent study confirms the wisdom of these surgeries although it does not address the big psychological issues around this decision. Most women who have completed their families are not too distressed by having their ovaries removed. Note that I said "most" and not "all." However, almost all women hesitate about having bilateral mastectomies as prevention. It is hard enough to lose your breasts when you know there is cancer. When, as far as you know, you have healthy breasts, this is a really tough choice.
Here is an excerpt from Breast Cancer.org about the study and then a link to read more:
Preventive Surgery Works for BRCA Mutation Carriers
2010-08-31T07:04:12-04:00
Crystal Phend
What breastcancer.org says about this article…
Preventive Surgery Works for BRCA Mutation Carriers
Women with an abnormal breast cancer gene have a much-higher-than-average risk of developing both breast cancer and ovarian cancer. One aggressive option to reduce this risk to remove the breasts and/or ovaries even though no cancer has been diagnosed. Removing both breasts to reduce risk is called bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. Removing both ovaries (and the fallopian tubes) to reduce risk is called bilateral
prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy. Doctors commonly recommend prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy for women with an abnormal breast cancer gene. Prophylactic mastectomy is sometimes recommended, too.
You may wonder why removing the ovaries reduces breast cancer risk. Most of the estrogen in women's bodies is made by the ovaries. Estrogen can promote the development, growth, and spread of breast cancer.
One drawback of prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy is that puts premenopausal women into menopause because of the abrupt and permanent drop in estrogen levels.
The study reviewed here found that women with an abnormal breast cancer gene who had prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy: lowered their risk of both ovarian cancer and breast cancer improved their chances of living longer, even if they eventually were diagnosed with ovarian or breast cancer
Women with an abnormal breast cancer gene who had prophylactic mastectomy lowered their risk of breast cancer.
http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/new_research/20100831.jsp
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