Ovarian Cancer Rates and BRCA Mutations

How the So Called Breast Cancer Genes Affect Ovarian Cancer

Jun 12, 2009

BRCA1 and BRCA2 may have been named after breast cancer, but mutations in the genes also increase the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer by up to 50%.

Women who test positive to mutations in BRCA genes are faced with difficult decisions not only about risk reducing mastectomies, but also about whether to remove their ovaries.

Some choose to fight potential cancer by having both operations done as soon as possible. Some prefer to delay a preventative oophorectomy so as to avoid early menopause and side effects. For others, the desire to have children is strong enough for them to keep their ovaries for years after they have decided to remove their breasts.

Removing Ovaries Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

A cancer geneticist and the director of the Familial Cancer Service at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia, Judy Kirk, says there is a strong argument for removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes of women who test positive for the BRCA mutations.

“When I’m counselling young women who have these gene mutations I focus on the removal of the ovaries first, for the reason that it reduces the risk of a cancer that is very difficult to treat and halve the risk of breast cancer.”

BRCA1 mutations can increase the risk of ovarian cancer by up to 50%. They can also increase the risk of developing uterine, pancreatic and colon cancer.

BRCA2 mutations increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer by 10 to 20%, and may increase the risk of melanoma and pancreatic, stomach, gallbladder, and bile duct cancer.

Family History Provides Vital Cancer Risk Factor Clues

While testing positive for known genetic mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 reveals an increased cancer risk, these mutations only account for around 10% of ovarian cancers.

A family history of cancer can provide vital clues as to an individual’s risk. People who are concerned about a hereditary predisposition to cancer should speak to their doctor or a genetic counsellor who can help to determine their risk. The non-profit organization FORCE offers online support and advice.

The Right Not To Know

Those with a known genetic mutation are given the opportunity to use knowledge as power. However there are those who prefer to stay in ignorant bliss, which can lead to conflict within families.

As Jessica Queller explored in her book, Pretty Is What Changes, when she tested positive for a BRCA mutation, her sister Danielle – who had planned not to be tested and so be free of the burden of such knowledge - felt that Jessica had cancelled her choice to remain sheltered.

The social and ethical dilemmas posed by genetic testing also extend to parents who have tested positive and are therefore able to select a child through IVF to be free from the known mutations.

The copyright of the article Ovarian Cancer Rates and BRCA Mutations in Women’s Health is owned by Amanda Woods. Permission to republish Ovarian Cancer Rates and BRCA Mutations in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.