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Women support delayed removal of ovaries
https://www.facingourrisk.org/XRAY/women-support-delayed-ovary-removal
Full article: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1471-0528.16424
Risk-reducing early removal of fallopian tubes followed by removal of ovaries at a later date was acceptable to women at high risk of ovarian cancer due to an inherited mutation in a recent study. This was especially true for women worried about sexual dysfunction associated with surgical menopause. (12/24/20)
Expert Guidelines
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) creates guidelines for the management of risk in women at high risk for ovarian cancer.
- The NCCN recommends risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy for women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.
- For women with BRCA1 mutations, the surgery is recommended between ages 35 and 40 and upon completion of childbearing.
- For women with BRCA2 mutations, delaying risk-reducing removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes until ages 40 to 45 is considered “reasonable."
- The NCCN suggests that women with an MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, EPCAM (Lynch syndrome), BRIP1, RAD51C or RAD51D mutation consider undergoing risk-reducing surgery between the ages of 45 and 50. The NCCN states that not enough evidence exists to recommend risk-reducing surgery for all women with a PMS2 mutation.
- Women should discuss the benefits and risks of surgery with their doctors.
- In their 2020 update, NCCN specifically commented that salpingectomy alone should not be considered standard of care for risk reduction.
Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider
- Is risk-reducing removal of the fallopian tubes followed by delayed removal of the ovaries (RRESDO) an option for me?
- What can I expect after RRSO?
- What can I expect after RRESDO?
- How do the benefits of RRESDO compare to the risks?
- How would two surgeries with RRESDO impact my quality of life compared to one surgery with RRSO?
- If I have RRESDO, what type of screening should I consider prior to the second surgery?
- Do I qualify for any research studies on ovarian cancer risk reduction?
- I am experiencing menopause effects from my RRSO. Can you refer me to a menopause expert?
About FORCE
FORCE is a national nonprofit organization, established in 1999. Our mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by adult hereditary cancers.