Four women successfully undergo a combined operation that includes two stages – delivery by caesarean section and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy to reduce the risk of ovarian carcinoma. The operative intervention was carried out by a team of researchers and clinicians from the hospital facilities at University College London. All women included were carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. The presence of these changes in the genetic sequence causes a higher risk of ovarian cancer among women. This risk can be lowered by a surgical procedure known as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. It is usually performed as a stand-alone procedure where the fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed. The risk of ovarian cancer in the presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes is between 11-68% compared to approximately 2% risk in all other women. About 15% of all ovarian cancer cases are associated with the BRCA gene. All four women in the study were referred to University College London’s Oncology Clinic during their pregnancies between March 2018 and March 2022. Their pregnancies were also followed up at University College London Hospital where delivery was identified. by caesarean section. The reason for cesarean section is not associated with an increased risk of cancer. For the bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy to be performed, women must be over 35 or 40 years of age with available genetic changes – BRCA1 and BRCA2 – and not planning to become pregnant again. The four women are aged between 40 and 45. All four operations were successful without serious postoperative complications. The patients’ hospital stay was also not increased compared to that after caesarean section. The number of women giving birth by caesarean section worldwide has increased significantly, as has the number of women carrying genetic alterations that increase the risk of cancer. This suggests the possibility of using a combined procedure in more women who want to reduce the risk of ovarian carcinoma. Information about the verified procedures and their results has been published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. References: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/9900/combined_bilateral_salpingo_oophorectomy_and.944.aspx
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