Research looks at the impact of risk-reducing ovarian cancer surgical options and quality of life

People with an inherited BRCA gene mutation are recommended to have surgery to remove their ovaries before the age of natural menopause to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer.  This surgery can cause short-term and long-term effects. A new study assesses the quality of life among people who have their fallopian tubes surgically removed and later have their ovaries removed compared to people who have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed at the same time.

The Netherlands-based study found that patients with a BRCA mutation have better menopause-related quality of life after an RSS (fallopian tubes removed only) than an RRSO (both fallopian tubes and ovaries removed. It did not assess the impacts of either option on cancer incidence or long-term survival. A similar study called WISP is being conducted in the US as well as a much larger, longer-term study called SOROCK is currently enrolling BRCA1 mutation carriers in the US. The goal of SOROCk is to learn if RRS with delayed RRO lowers ovarian cancer risk as safely and effectively as RRSO.

To learn more about these findings and read about the study, click here.