Young breast cancer patients with high risk BRCA mutations can significantly reduce their risk of cancer recurrence and improve survival if they have their breasts and/or ovaries removed. An international study analysed data from 5,290 breast cancer patients aged 40 or younger with BRCA mutations, treated at 109 hospitals across five continents, with a median follow up of 8.2 years.
Patients who underwent mastectomy had a 35 per cent lower risk of death and 42 per cent lower risk of cancer recurrence compared with women who did not have the surgery. Similarly, patients who had their ovaries removed had a 42 per cent lower risk of death and 32 per cent lower risk of recurrence compared with women who did have the surgery. Overall survival results were comparable for patients who underwent either or both surgeries.
“We hope these findings may help to improve the counselling on cancer-risk management strategies for BRCA carriers with a young onset of breast cancer at age 40 or younger at diagnosis,” the study said.
The findings were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
