Genetic Testing Can Offer Valuable Information about Ovarian Cancer Risk

Mutations of the BRCA gene, like BRCA1 or BRCA2, can place people at a heightened risk for breast cancer or ovarian cancer. But in the U.S., 90 percent of people who carry a BRCA gene mutation aren't aware of it until someone in their family gets cancer.

These gene mutations are commonly passed down among family members. In fact, if one of your blood relatives is found to carry a BRCA gene mutation, there's a 50-50 chance you could be carrying it, too. And because BRCA mutations aren't found on the X or Y sex chromosome, you're just as likely to inherit the risks of cancers associated with BRCA from your father as you are from your mother.

This is why genetic testing can be a valuable option.

In cases where someone does test positive for a BRCA gene mutation, Lauren Mills, a genetic counselor at UT Health San Antonio says that she may be advised to undergo surgery to remove both of her ovaries and her uterus to eliminate her risk of ovarian cancer.

“The recommendation is to get a bilateral oophorectomy and hysterectomy, so getting the ovaries and the uterus removed,” Mills explains, adding that procedure is ideally done after childbearing years, usually between ages of 40 to 45.

Of course, not every woman will elect to have this preventative (or “prophylactic,” as doctors tend to call it) surgery. This is an individual choice, and in cases where a woman does not choose surgery, there are other ways to stay on top of ovarian cancer risks, such as undergoing a CA 125 blood test or receiving a transvaginal ultrasound. Ultimately, however, it is important to note that these tests are not foolproof; they don’t necessarily pick up every ovarian cancer, which is part of the reason why ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage.

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