Mygripe WASHINGTON: Women with a genetic predisposition to breast or ovarian cancer can dramatically reduce their risk of developing either by having preventative surgeries, a study shows.
The research tracked nearly 2500 women with certain genetic mutations. It found pre-emptive mastectomies or surgeries to remove the ovaries or fallopian tubes nearly eliminated the incidence of either cancer.
“This is the first study to prove women survive longer with these preventive surgeries and shows the importance of genetic testing when there is a family history of early breast or ovarian cancer,” said Virginia Kaklamani, a co-author of the study. The research looked at 2482 women with mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which significantly increased their chances of developing ovarian or breast cancer.
It found that women with mutations in either gene who opted for prophylactic mastectomies effectively eliminated their risk of breast cancer.
The study showed that “no breast cancer events occurring in women who underwent risk-reducing mastectomy during three years of prospective follow-up”.
Seven per cent of women in the study who did not undergo the surgery developed breast cancer in the same period. Among a subset of the women who underwent surgery removing their ovaries and fallopian tubes, the risk of ovarian cancer dropped off completely.
Associate Professor Kaklamani, of Chicago’s Northwestern University, said the study showed not only the potential benefits of pre-emptive surgery, but also the importance of genetic testing to detect whether the gene mutations were present.
“Primary care physicians, gynaecologists and women need to be more aware that these tests exist,” she said. “Testing should not start with the oncologists.” Mygripe
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