The effect of personal medical history and family history of cancer on the uptake of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy

open access


 Abstract
Women with an increased lifetime risk of ovarian cancer are advised to undergo risk-reducing salp-ingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) to reduce risk of adnexal
cancer. We investigated the uptake of RRSO and evaluatedthe influence of personal medical history of (breast) cancer,risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) and family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer on the RRSO decision......
 
 Study population
The study population consists of all women who received
counseling for RRSO, based on the criteria described pre-
viously. Women who had completed childbearing at
<35 years of age and had received counseling for RRSO
were included too.
Women previously diagnosed with ovarian cancer, car-
riers of a mutation in one of the MMR genes (predisposing
to Lynch syndrome), women with increased risk of breast
cancer or other non-breast and ovarian related hereditary
tumors only, were excluded.......

 


















 In conclusion, the majority (87.2 %) of the women carrying a BRCA mutation or having familial susceptibility to ovarian cancer, who visited our clinic, where it

is not offered, opted for RRSO. This decision is made relatively quick; the majority decided after the first consultation with the gynecologist. This approach is therefore likely to be effective in reducing ovarian cancer related mortality in this high risk population. Personal medical history of (breast) cancer was not found to significantly affect the decision to undergo RRSO, though women who had undergone RRM were more likely to opt for RRSO. Also, patients with 1st degree relatives who had breast cancer needed significantly less consultations to decide for RRSO