New research suggests women who have the BRCA (cancer) gene mutation have a 77 percent lower change of death if they opt for a preventive ovary removal surgery called a oophorectomy.
"Scientific evidence clearly shows removal of a woman's ovaries and fallopian tubes is very effective in preventing both breast and ovarian cancer in women with a BRCA mutation. But the real question has been at what age these women should have the surgery to best diminish their chance of developing cancer," Women's College Hospital's Amy Finch said in a news release.
Researchers looked at how oophorectomy could reduce the risk of death in women at risk for ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancer. The team looked at 5, 783 women with a BRCA gene mutation.
The research suggested women who received the surgery reduced the risk of for ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancer by 80 percent. The surgery also resulted in a 77 percent lower risk of death from these cancers and a 68 percent lower risk of death in women who had breast cancer in the past.
"Our study supports the notion that women who carry a BRCA gene mutation will have a much lower risk of developing or dying from cancer if they have an oophorectomy at age 35," Doctor Steven Narod, a co-author of the study and senior scientist at Women's College Research Institute, said in the news release. "If a woman with a BRCA1 mutation opts to delay the surgery until age 40 or 50, her chance of developing ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancers jumps to 4 and 14.2 per cent, respectively."
Oophorectomy is considered to be a safe procedure but could come with certain complications such as early menopause.
"After an oophorectomy, the long-term effects on a woman's cardiovascular health and her bone health are less well known, and further research is needed," Finch said.
