Risk Management Approaches of Unaffected BRCA1/2 Carriers Vary Widely
A systematic review published in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology reveals significant global variation in how women with BRCA1/2 genetic mutations manage their breast cancer risk. While some opt for prophylactic mastectomy, many others prefer intensive surveillance, reflecting diverse personal and medical decision-making.
Why it matters
Understanding these variations is crucial for healthcare providers to offer better-tailored counseling and support for high-risk patients.
For women who are unaffected carriers of BRCA1 / 2 pathogenic variants, breast cancer risk management approaches have varied widely, according to research published in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology .
Risk-reducing mastectomy is a "demanding" surgery with potential physical and psychological implications, study researchers noted, leading some women to reject it as a risk-management option. In this systematic review, the researchers aimed to analyze the uptake of breast cancer risk management strategies, including prophylactic mastectomy, intensive surveillance, or no active strategy, in BRCA1/2 carriers.
The analysis included studies published since January 1995 and identified across the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts databases, in addition to gray literature sources found through the OpenGrey Repository.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in