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Preventive treatments for BRCA1 mutation?

Page last modified on: November 20, 2008
Question from DeWanda: I'm 31 and I have the BRCA1 mutation, although I have never had breast cancer. Were there any new findings this year about preventive treatments for people with BRCA1 mutations?
Answers —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: What we know at this point is that a risk-reducing surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes in selected women can help reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. At your age this may be too early a time to go through such a surgery, especially if you still plan on having children. One thing that's come out in the last year or two is that after removal of the ovaries women can have hormone replacement therapy without "undoing" the risk-reducing effects of the surgery to remove the ovaries. In other words, one doesn't need to live without estrogen to benefit from this surgery. Other prevention measures that have been proposed include ovarian suppression with an injection of medication that can be given either shorter-acting (every month) or longer-acting (every three months) to temporarily reduce the exposure of the breast tissue to estrogen. This is investigational and would not be considered standard of care, but could be a compromise for a woman who does not yet want to have her ovaries removed, but would like to do something that might reduce her risk of breast cancer. Ovarian suppression can also act as a form of contraception, so for some women it offers a double advantage.
Nicholas Robert, M.D.: In terms of detection it's become clear that someone at 31 should be having regular breast MRIs on an annual basis which should complement a mammogram, which should be a digital.

On Wednesday, June 21, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the 2006 ASCO Annual Meeting. Nicholas Robert, M.D. and moderator Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about recent advances in breast cancer treatment, updates on breast cancer genetics, information on diet and risk of recurrence, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Nicholas Robert, M.D.Nicholas Robert, M.D. is a co-chair of the Breast Committee of the U.S. Oncology Research Network and also chairs the Cancer Committee and Research Committee of the Inova Fairfax Hospital's Cancer Center. 

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.

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