Some women at high risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer may significantly lower their chances of getting breast cancer by having their ovaries removed. In last week's Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a study by University of Pennsylvania researchers showed that women with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, which can cause breast and ovarian cancer, were almost 70 percent less likely to develop breast cancer if they underwent the surgery.
Ovaries produce estrogen, which is linked to tumor growth.
As many as 8,000 of the 180,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year carry the mutated gene. It's not for everyone. The surgery, which removes healthy organs in pre-menopausal women, can cause early onset of menopause and raise the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Rebbeck advises women to first meet with a genetic counselor to assess their danger. Brophy Marcus Cheaper dialing for a few dollars Take out the calculator.