Deciding about Prophylactic Oophorectomy: What Is Important to Women at Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer?

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the factors that women at increased risk of ovarian cancer consider to be important when deciding about prophylactic oophorectomy, surgery to remove the ovaries before they develop cancer. METHODS: Women who had undergone prophylactic oophorectomy (surgical group; n = 30) were compared with women who remained on the ovarian screening program (nonsurgical group; n = 28) on their importance ratings for a number of relevant decision-making factors. RESULTS: The most important decision-making factor across all subjects was reducing risk of ovarian cancer, but the single best predictor of group membership was the importance attributed to reducing cancer worry. Women who rated this factor as more important were more likely to be in the surgical group. No women identified the increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis as issues for consideration. CONCLUSIONS: The desire to reduce cancer worry is likely to be the most important factor in a woman's decision to proceed to prophylactic oophorectomy. In view of the current imprecision in risk estimates given to women considering this option, cancer worry may override a more rational consideration of the costs and benefits of surgery.     

Anxiety/uncertainty reduction as a motivation for interest in prophylactic oophorectomy in women with a family history of ovarian cancer

Most women at familial risk for ovarian cancer must decide about prophylactic oophorectomy without conclusive genotypic information about their risk level. Some women with relatively low-risk profiles seek prophylactic oophorectomy or are recommended the procedure by their physicians, if they appear "cancerphobic." This study investigated the desire to reduce anxiety in relation to other factors associated with interest in prophylactic oophorectomy in a group of women with varying degrees of familial risk for ovarian cancer. Ninety-four women enrolled in an ongoing program for women with a family history of ovarian cancer received personalized risk counseling and were classified as having a sporadic, familial, or putative hereditary pedigree by a genetics counselor. Eligible enrollees were interviewed by telephone about current and future interest in prophylactic oophorectomy, perceived risk of ovarian cancer, severity of cancer anxiety, stress-related ideation, and reasons for and against surgery. Reduction of anxiety/uncertainty was the factor most strongly associated with current interest in prophylactic oophorectomy, independent of objective risk classification, perceived risk, severity of cancer anxiety, intrusive ideation, or other variables. Future interest in prophylactic oophorectomy was predicted by other perceived benefits of surgery. Current, but not future, interest in prophylactic oophorectomy appears motivated in part by seeking immediate relief from anxiety. Interest in prophylactic oophorectomy may fluctuate based on varying exposure to cues that trigger anxiety. Women seeking prophylactic oophorectomy, particularly those with lower-risk family pedigrees, should be offered options for anxiety management as part of informed consent for prophylactic oophorectomy.     

子宫肌瘤术中卵巢去留和对内分泌的影响

对于围绝经或绝经后妇女而言,因子宫肌瘤进行子宫切除的妇女,术中同时行预防性卵巢切除避免卵巢肿瘤的发生。但是,作为女性内分泌器官的卵巢,即使功能降低或停止,在手术切除后仍会引起妇女急性卵巢功能衰竭而出现相关症状,对妇女以后的生活产生不良影响。因此,子宫肌瘤行子宫切除时是否预防性切除卵巢一直存在争议。     

Psychosocial correlates of intention to undergo prophylactic oophorectomy among women with a family history of ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates of intention to undergo prophylactic oophorectomy among women with a family history of ovarian cancer. METHODS: Participants were 76 women enrolled in a familial cancer risk assessment program. Psychosocial assessments were collected upon entry into the program and included measures of perceived risk of developing ovarian cancer, perceived benefits and limitations of prophylactic oophorectomy, and psychological distress. In addition, respondents were asked whether they intended to undergo prophylactic oophorectomy in the following 12 months. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent reported intention to have surgery within 12 months. Logistic regression analyses indicated that intention to undergo surgery was associated with several psychosocial factors including greater perceived risk of developing ovarian cancer and greater perceived benefits of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Women who have heightened risk perceptions and who perceive there to be many benefits of surgery may be more inclined to undergo the procedure, possibly without fully considering the potential limitations and consequences of surgery. These findings suggest the need for education and risk counseling designed to facilitate informed decision making among not only high-risk women, but also women who perceive themselves to be at increased risk.     

Prevention and genetic testing for breast cancer: variations in medical decisions

The discovery linking the genes BRCA1&2 to familial breast cancer played an important role in the clinical practice of geneticists and physicians. The availability of genetic tests for BRCA gene mutations prompted cancer geneticists to give information about genetic risk and to assess many women with a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer to inform them of preventive measures. These consist mainly of breast self-examination, mammography screening, chemoprevention and prophylactic surgery (mastectomy, oophorectomy). This paper examines clinical practices related to hereditary breast cancer testing and introduces a number of results from a survey carried out, between 1996 and 1998, in three clinics located in Montreal (Quebec, Canada), Marseilles (France) and Manchester (Great Britain). Results show substantial differences in the way cancer geneticists deal with environmental risk factors, breast and ovarian cancer testing, and chemoprevention and prophylactic surgery. Differences across cities persist in the multivariate analysis, suggesting that attitudes towards preventive measures may be partially explained by cultural factors. Different dimensions of culture are discussed including the social representation of health and risk, the interpretation of scientific evidence and the role of innovation leadership.     

Development and preliminary evaluation of a clinical guidance programme for the decision about prophylactic oophorectomy in women undergoing a hysterectomy

Objectives: To develop a decision analysis based and computerised clinical guidance programme (CGP) that provides patient specific guidance on the decision whether or not to undergo a prophylactic oophorectomy to reduce the risk of subsequent ovarian cancer and to undertake a preliminary pilot and evaluation.

Subjects: Women who had already agreed to have a hysterectomy who otherwise had no ovarian pathology.

Setting: Oophorectomy decision consultation at the outpatient or pre-admission clinic.

Methods: A CGP was developed with advice from gynaecologists and patient groups, incorporating a set of Markov models within a decision analytical framework to evaluate the benefits of undergoing a prophylactic oophorectomy or not on the basis of quality adjusted life expectancy, life expectancy, and for varying durations of hormone replacement therapy. Sensitivity analysis and preliminary testing of the CGP were undertaken to compare its overall performance with established guidelines and practice. A small convenience sample of women invited to use the CGP were interviewed, the interviews were taped and transcribed, and a thematic analysis was undertaken.

Results: The run time of the programme was 20 minutes, depending on the use of opt outs to default values. The CGP functioned well in preliminary testing. Women were able to use the programme and expressed overall satisfaction with it. Some had reservations about the computerised format and some were surprised at the specificity of the guidance given.

Conclusions: A CGP can be developed for a complex healthcare decision. It can give evidence-based health guidance which can be adjusted to account for individual risk factors and reflects a patient's own values and preferences concerning health outcomes. Future decision aids and support systems need to be developed and evaluated in a way which takes account of the variation in patients' preferences for inclusion in the decision making process.

     

Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and heart disease risk factors in older women.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relation of hysterectomy and oophorectomy to heart disease risk factors. METHODS: Data were collected and analyzed for 1150 women aged 50 through 89. RESULTS: Of these women, 21.8% reported hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy; 22.1%, hysterectomy with ovarian conservation. Compared with women without hysterectomy, oophorectomized women, especially those 20 or more years postmenopause, had increased lipids, lipoproteins, glucose, and insulin; blood pressures were increased among current estrogen users. Women with hysterectomies with ovarian conservation had similar or more favorable risk factors than nonhysterectomized women. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral oophorectomy, but not hysterectomy, may have long-term negative consequences for heart disease risk factors not totally ameliorated by estrogen use.     

Carcinoma of the fallopian tube after prophylactic laparoscopic ovariectomy in a patient with a BRCAI mutation

A 48-year-old woman with a distended abdomen appeared to have ascites and was admitted to the gynaecological ward. At the age of 31 years she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone surgical breast conservation of the right breast. There was a history of both ovarian cancer and breast cancer in her family. Genetic evaluation showed that she was carrying a BRCAI germline mutation. At the age of 42 years she underwent a prophylactic bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy and 5 years later she underwent a complete mastectomy due to breast carcinoma of the left breast. Two months later she developed ascites, a raised CA125 level and on a CT scan carcinoma of the peritoneum. During the laparotomy a fallopian tube carcinoma was found. After the uterus, fallopian tubes and omentum had been surgically removed, chemotherapy took place. The patient tolerated this well and the CA125 value decreased. Recently, the first molecular evidence was found that linked fallopian tube cancer to germline mutations in BRCAI patients. Patients harbouring a BRCA germline mutation not only have an increased risk of ovarian carcinoma but also of fallopian tube carcinoma. Therefore, in patients with a BRCA mutation, prophylactic surgery should take the form of an adnexectomy, not an oophorectomy.     

Prevalence and clustering of menopausal symptoms in older women by hysterectomy and oophorectomy status

This study examines the association of hysterectomy and oophorectomy with the prevalence and clustering of menopausal symptoms in a large population-based sample of older women. Subjects were 1121 women aged 50-89 from the Rancho Bernardo Study. Information on menopause, hysterectomy, oophorectomy, estrogen use, and other covariates was obtained in 1984-1987. A 1989 mailed survey obtained information on menopausal symptoms. In this sample, 22.1% reported hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy, and 25.3% reported hysterectomy with ovarian conservation. Mean time since hysterectomy was 26 (+/-12) years. Overall, 37% reported current estrogen use, and 40% reported past use. The duration of estrogen use was longer for women who had a hysterectomy (p < 0.001). Age-adjusted comparisons indicated that more women who had a hysterectomy, with or without bilateral oophorectomy, reported greater energy after menopause (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001, respectively), and more women with bilateral oophorectomy reported greater interest in sex (p = 0.007) and that life was getting better (p = 0.012) than women with natural menopause. Principal components factor analysis of the symptom data for all women yielded four factors: psychological, vasomotor, positive feelings, and self-image. Analyses performed within each group of women yielded similar factors and loadings. Adjusted comparisons of factor scores indicated that positive feelings were significantly higher in women who had a hysterectomy, with or without bilateral oophorectomy (p < 0.01) than in women with natural menopause. This difference was limited to current estrogen users. Vasomotor symptoms, psychological symptoms, and negative self-image did not differ by hysterectomy or oophorectomy status before or after stratification for estrogen use (p > 0.10). This study found after a hysterectomy, women are more likely to recall positive feelings about their menopause than women with natural menopause. Relief from symptoms leading to hysterectomy and use of replacement estrogen may be partly responsible. Results do not support the thesis that surgical menopause is associated with a sustained increased prevalence of vasomotor, psychological, or other symptoms.     

Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy for breast cancer prevention

Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy, or preventive removal of the breasts, is an option for women who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer. Among the highest risk groups are those women with a significant family history of breast cancer and those with a known genetic predisposition to the disease. There are many issues surrounding prophylactic mastectomy. Recent research has demonstrated that prophylactic mastectomy may be effective in preventing breast cancer in high-risk women, as well as those with a known BRCA1/2 mutation. The limited research that has been done on the psychosocial implications of the preventive surgery suggests that prophylactic mastectomy may be effective in reducing distress levels in high-risk women and that most women who have had the surgery do not experience psychosocial difficulties. Overall, women who have had prophylactic mastectomy are satisfied with their decision to have the preventive surgery. However, women who choose prophylactic mastectomy may differ compared with those who do not. The results may not be generalizable to all high-risk women. Counseling of high-risk women, specifically those with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, should include a discussion of prophylactic mastectomy, including the medical and psychosocial risks and benefits.     

Familial ovarian cancer

Women with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are at increased risk for the development not only of breast, but of ovarian cancer. The estimated lifetime risk of contracting ovarian cancer for women bearing the mutation is 16% for Ashkenazi Jews and up to 60% for high-risk populations. If a woman is at high familial risk of getting ovarian cancer, an intense screening with transvaginal ultrasound or determination of CA 125 can be done, although these methods have not proved beneficial so far. It is thought by some that the use of the contraceptive pill can prevent up to 50% of family-associated ovarian cancers, but the few existing studies have yielded contradictory results. That prophylactic oophorectomy can prolong the lives of healthy women with a family history or who bear a germline BRCA mutation is quite sure, but it is not helpful in preventing peritoneal carcinoma. The clinicopathologic behavior of mutation-associated ovarian cancer differs from the growth pattern of sporadic ovarian cancer. The hope is to develop suitable therapies for both types.     

Influence of menstrual and reproductive factors on ovarian cancer risk in women with and without family history of breast or ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND: As women with a family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer possibly inherit genetic changes that alter their risk of ovarian cancer, other established risk factors for ovarian cancer may influence the risk differently in women with and without a family history of the disease. METHODS: Case-control study conducted between 1983 and 1991 in Northern Italy. Cases were 971 women, under 75 years, with incident, histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer, and controls were 2758 women, under 75 years, admitted to hospitals for non-malignant, non-hormone-related conditions, who had not undergone bilateral oophorectomy. Of these, 93 cases and 139 controls had a family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer. RESULTS: The risk of ovarian cancer increased with irregular menstrual cycles, late age at menopause, natural menopause, nulliparity, never use of oral contraceptives and use of hormone replacement therapy. We computed an 'adult life risk score' (ALRS) considering the combined effect of these factors. Compared to women without a family history and a low ALRS, the OR was 1.7 for women without family history and high ALRS, 1.4 for women with a family history and low ALRS, and 3.5 for women with a family history and high ALRS. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention on selected hormonal risk factors for ovarian cancer might be important for women with a family history of the disease.     

Enhanced counseling for women undergoing BRCA1/2 testing: impact on subsequent decision making about risk reduction behaviors.

The authors evaluated the impact of an enhanced counseling intervention, designed to promote well-informed decision making for follow-up risk reduction options for ovarian cancer, among high-risk women undergoing BRCA1/2 testing (N = 77). Following standard genetic counseling, participants received either an enhanced counseling session--designed to help participants anticipate their reactions to possible test outcomes and plan for postresult consequences--or a general health information control session. One week after disclosure of test results, women in the enhanced counseling group experienced a greater reduction in avoidant ideation, suggesting more complete processing of risk feedback. At the 6-month follow-up, intervention respondents reported seeking out more information about prophylactic oophorectomy and were more likely to have actually undergone preventive surgery. The results indicate that the use of enhanced counseling can play an important role in decision making about risk reduction behaviors following BRCA1/2 testing.     

Age-specific hysterectomy and oophorectomy prevalence rates and the risks for cancer of the reproductive system.

A sample survey was conducted in 1982 to determine the prevalence of hysterectomy and oophorectomy among upstate New York women, ages 25-74. The effects of this surgery on age-specific estimates of the risk for cancer of the uterus, cervix, and ovary were calculated. Overall, 16.9 per cent of the women reported having had a hysterectomy and 9.9 per cent reported a bilateral oophorectomy. The adjustment for age-specific hysterectomy increased the 1977-1979 average annual incidence rate of cervical and uterine cancer by 21 per cent. In several five-year age categories, the increase reached 54 per cent. The 1977-1979 average annual incidence rate of ovarian cancer increased by 12 per cent after adjusting for age-specific bilateral oophorectomy. The increase reached 29 per cent in one five-year age group. The sample results show a lower prevalence of hysterectomy among women 25 to 40 years old and among women 70 to 74 than estimates based on the application of mathematical models to data on surgical incidence.     

Steering a course around the genetic iceberg

A US company is now marketing worldwide, via the Internet, genetic testing for predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. This paper explores some of the divergent concerns about the implications of private genetic testing for the United States and United Kingdom, with their differing health care systems. As the UK National Health Service faces calls for expansion in its genetic services to meet growing demand, there is now a need for evaluation of the costs and effectiveness of such services so that they may be efficiently targeted to those women who can benefit most from them. In the cases of breast and ovarian cancer, it is relatively straightforward to calculate the benefits in terms of added life expectancy and health-related quality of life resulting from earlier diagnosis and treatment of affected women, but these women are likely to be a small proportion of the total number of women who are referred or self-refer to genetic services. This paper asks how we are to measure and value the benefits of information about risk of cancer to a particular woman or to members of her family; how we are to measure and value the benefits of effective counselling, which encourages autonomous, informed decision-making about whether or not to undergo genetic testing, and which facilitates comprehension of complex results; and ultimately, in the face of advances in genetic science, how we are to steer the NHS around the genetic iceberg.     

In cases of familial ovarian cancer, always consider the risk of breast cancer

A family history of ovarian cancer without breast cancer can be a pitfall in interpreting the high breast cancer risks. A family with high breast and ovarian cancer risks due to a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, can present itself with ovarian cancer only. In three women, 43, 50 and 61 years of age, there was a family history of ovarian cancer. In the youngest woman breast carcinoma was diagnosed and she was referred for genetic counseling and DNA mutation analysis. She was identified with a pathogenic mutation in BRCA1 and decided for regular breast examination and prophylactic adnectomy. The 50-year-old woman presented with ovarian cancer and was found to have a BRCA1 mutation. She received surgery and chemotherapy for her ovarian cancer and regular examination of the breasts. The third woman at risk could be reassured, since she did not carry the BRCA1 mutation that was found in her affected sister. Because the patients and their family members can benefit from regular surveillance and prophylactic surgery, it is of great importance to identify the high breast cancer risks as well as the high ovarian cancer risks in these families.     

Women's views of two interventions designed to assist in the prophylactic oophorectomy decision: a qualitative pilot evaluation

Introduction A qualitative pilot evaluation of two different decision interventions for the prophylactic oophorectomy (PO) decision: a Decision Chart and a computerized clinical guidance programme (CGP) was undertaken. The Decision Chart, representing current practice in decision interventions, presents population‐based information. The CGP elicits individual values to allow for quality‐adjusted life years to be calculated and an explicit guidance statement is given. Prophylactic oophorectomy involves removal of the ovaries as an adjunct to hysterectomy to prevent ovarian cancer. The decision is complex because the operation can affect a number of long‐term outcomes including breast cancer, coronary heart disease and osteoporosis. Methods Both interventions were based on the evidence and were administered by a facilitator. The Decision Chart is a file, which progressively reveals information in the form of bar charts. The CGP is a decision‐analysis based program integrating the results from a cluster of Markov cycle trees. The research evidence is incorporated with woman's individual risk factors, values and preferences. A purposive sample of 19 women awaiting hysterectomy used the decision interventions (10 CGP, nine Decision Chart). In‐depth semi‐structured interviews were undertaken. Interviews were transcribed and analysed to derive themes. Results Reactions to the different decision interventions were mixed. Both were seen as clarifying the decision. Some women found some of the tasks difficult (e.g. rating health status). Some were surprised by the ‘individualized’ guidance, which the CGP offered. The Decision Chart provided some with a sense of empowerment, although some found that it provided too much information. Conclusions Women were able to use both decision interventions. Both provided decision clarification. Problems were evident with both interventions, which give useful pointers for future development. These included the possibility for women to see how their individual risks of different outcomes are affected in the Decision Chart and enhanced explanation of the CGP tasks. Future design and evaluation of decision aids, will need to accommodate differences between patients in the desire for amount and type of information and level of involvement in the decision‐making process.     

Familial ovarian malignancy

Familial ovarian cancer is a subset of ovarian cancer where there appears to be a definable genetic link in families. It accounts for less than 5% of cases of ovarian cancer seen at present. The main genes responsible, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are discussed. Screening and the prophylactic measures for women identified having a genetic trait are discussed.     

Hysterectomy, tubal sterilization, and the risk of breast cancer

Studies suggest that hysterectomy and tubal sterilization may alter the function of the remaining ovaries. Conceivably, this effect could alter breast cancer risk. To investigate whether these surgeries affect breast cancer risk, the authors analyzed data collected between December 1, 1980, and April 30, 1983, in a population-based, case-control study of women aged 20-54 years, the Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study. Compared with never-sterilized women, women with hysterectomy and no remaining ovaries had a decreased risk of breast cancer (relative risk (RR) = 0.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.6-0.8). Risk was lowest in women who had their surgery before age 40 years or 15 or more years in the past; surgery at an early age provided greater protection than surgery in the distant past. Hysterectomy with one or two remaining ovaries was also inversely associated with breast cancer risk (RR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.7-0.9), but no relation was found with age at surgery or time since surgery. Women with tubal sterilization had a slightly increased risk of breast cancer, which was of borderline statistical significance (RR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0-1.3). However, no relation was found with age at surgery or time since surgery. The data suggest that hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy decreases the breast cancer risk in women aged less than 55 years, possibly by curtailing ovarian function at a critical period. However, neither hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy nor tubal sterilization appears to substantially alter breast cancer risk in women of this age.