Attitudes toward preventive oophorectomy among BRCA1 mutation carriers in Poland

Currently genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 susceptibility genes is performed throughout Europe and North America. In Poland three founder mutations in BRCA1 account for 14% of all invasive ovarian cancers and oophorectomy is frequently recommended to mutation carriers as a preventive measure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate patient acceptance of the recommendation for prophylactic oophorectomy in a hereditary cancer clinic. Seventy-two women over the age of 40 and who carried a BRCA1 mutation were advised to undergo prophylactic oophorectomy. After a mean follow-up period of 19 months, 43 of the women (60%) had undergone the procedure. Of the 29 women who had not had an oophorectomy, five indicated that they did not intend to do so, 19 indicated that they intended to have the operation in the near future and five were undecided. In conclusion, preventive oophorectomy is acceptable to most Polish women at high risk of hereditary ovarian cancer and should be among the range of services offered in cancer genetics clinics.