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What should breast cancer survivors be aware of regarding risk of ovarian cancer? What screening should be done?

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Topics (Tags):

Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors Breast Cancer Cancer Screening Ovarian Cancer Risk Ovarian Cancer Screening Ovarian Cancer

Topics:

Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors X Breast Cancer X Cancer Screening X Ovarian Cancer Risk X Ovarian Cancer Screening X Ovarian Cancer X

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Diseases:

Breast Cancer Ovarian Cancer

Diseases:

Breast Cancer Ovarian Cancer X

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Answers (1)

MelanieBoneMD (Physician - OBGYN - Obstetrics-Gynecology (Verified) ) - 01 / 28 / 2012

In patients with the BRCA gene, ovarian cancer can occur in addition to breast cancer. The risk depends on which BRCA gene mutation they inherited, with BRCA 1 patients having a risk of ovarian cancer as high as 44% and BRCA 2 patients having a risk as high as 27%. For patients without the BRCA gene, the risk is much lower. Breast cancer can metastasize to the ovary, causing tumors called Krukenberg tumors. Years ago, before the advent of medications to suppress estrogen formation by the ovary, many oncologists requested that the ovaries be removed to reduce estrogen in premenopausal breast cancer patients. That is not really done anymore except in extenuating circumstances. At the moment, there is no specific protocol to monitor the ovaries of breast cancer survivors. Some gynecologists will not change their standard care and others will offer sonograms (ultrasounds) both to assess the uterine lining in patients taking Tamoxifen and to look at the ovaries. Sadly, as mentioned in other questions on this site, ovarian cancer can be sneaky and not show up on scans. My thought is to not worry too much unless you are BRCA positive. Please ask your doctor if you qualify for testing.

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Latest Activity: 01 / 28 / 2012
Views: 784
Followed By: 2 members