Management Options after Prophylactic Surgeries in Women with BRCA Mutations: A Review

Abstract

Background Although breast cancer is relatively common, only about 5% of cases are due to inheritance of highly penetrant cancer susceptibility genes. The majority of these are caused by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are also associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Increased surveillance, chemoprevention, and prophylactic surgeries are standard options for the effective medical management of mutation carriers. However, optimal management of female carriers who choose to undergo prophylactic surgeries is still poorly understood. Methods The authors provide an overview of the current literature regarding medical management options for women carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations and the implications for those individuals who have chosen to undergo prophylactic surgeries. Results BRCA mutation carriers who opt for prophylactic surgeries are still at risk for development of malignancy, and appropriate monitoring is warranted. Conclusions There are limited data on the appropriate medical management for BRCA mutation carriers after prophylactic surgeries. However, a management plan can be extrapolated from the general management recommendations for surveillance and other risk-reducing strategies in BRCA-positive individuals.