TUESDAY, Feb. 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) — We know that women with certain mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are more likely to develop breast cancer.
Now, a Canadian study suggests that for some patients, a “risk-reducing” prophylactic mastectomy may reduce the chance of dying from breast cancer later in life.
“The decision to undergo a mastectomy to reduce risk is often difficult for women, but the more evidence we can provide women with when making that decision, the better their care plans will be. “We will be able to obtain more information about this,” said the principal investigator.author kelly metcalfeof the University of Toronto.
Her team recently published its findings British Cancer Journal.
It is well known that carrying certain variants in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes increases a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime by 80%, the researchers said.
Studies have shown that removing the breast can prevent 90% of the disease in these women. In Canada, Metcalf’s group noted that 30 per cent of people who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, who have a higher chance of developing breast cancer, choose surgery.
But does this drastic surgery really reduce a woman’s chances of developing deadly breast cancer?
For the study, the researchers looked at data from more than 1,600 women in nine countries. All carried the BRCA gene, which is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, and half of the women had mastectomies to reduce their risk.
Over six years of follow-up, the study found that 20 of the women who chose risk-reducing mastectomies developed breast cancer and two died.
This is far fewer than the 100 breast cancer cases and seven deaths among women who carry the BRCA gene and did not choose this surgery.
Overall, the study found that risk-reducing mastectomies reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by 80%. The chance of dying from breast cancer 15 years after a mastectomy was only 1%.
Metcalf believes further studies are needed that can track women’s outcomes over a longer period of time.
Professor Metcalf said in a university news release: “With the appropriate breast cancer tests now in place, including breast MRI, surgery is only offered as an option and is not recommended.” “However, more research is being done to assess women’s subsequent trajectories and risk factors. [risk-reducing mastectomy]You’ll know if you need to change these guidelines in the future. ”
For more information
For more information about the BRCA gene, please visit: Susan B. Komen Foundation.
Source: University of Toronto, News Release, February 16, 2024
There is further evidence that ‘risk-reducing’ mastectomies may extend the lives of women with breast cancer.