Breast, Ovary Removal Prevents Breast Cancer in High Risk Women
Women who undergo preemptive removal of breasts or ovaries in women with mutations in the well-known BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are much more likely to survive than women who do not get preventive surgery, according to new research published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.
This study shows the benefits of genetic testing for high risk women, or women with a family history of cancer, and gives them the opportunity to take preventative measures which will increase their chance of survival.
The study showed that removal of the ovaries or breasts in women with these common breast cancer genes can almost completely eliminate the risk of ovarian cancer and reduce the risk of breast cancer by two thirds.
Women with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have a 56 to 84% higher risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetimes. Women with the BRCA1 mutation also have a 36 to 63% higher risk of ovarian cancer and those with the BRCA2 mutation have a 10 to 27% higher risk of ovarian cancer.
Breast cancer kills 465,000 women annually, which makes it the leading global cancer killer of women.
- Log in to add favorite
- Share
