Preventing cancer by surgically removing ovaries

NEW YORK (WABC) -- We've heard of women getting voluntary mastectomies if they're high-risk for breast cancer.

Most famously perhaps was Angelina Jolie revealing her surgery earlier this year.

Now there is another difficult decision facing some of those same women.

Should they go as far as having their ovaries removed?

It's an option more women are choosing, to remove their ovaries not because of cancer but to prevent it.

One local woman made this difficult decision, and explains all the challenges that come with it.

"That's my grandmother," said Chloe Brown, a patient.

Chloe Brown's grandmother and great grandmother both died from ovarian cancer before the age of 40.

When Chloe learned she had the genetic mutation that raises her risk, she chose to have her ovaries removed.

"In my family history, ovarian cancer ends with me," Brown said.

That decision was not easy to make, but as director of the Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment Program at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. David Fishman says women should know it's an option.

"Depending on the mutation, a woman's risk for ovarian cancer can be 40% to 60% higher than that of someone who does not have the mutation," Dr. Fishman said.

The first step is to get tested for the BRCA mutation and see a genetic counselor.

Dr. Fishman says the recommendation is for women to consider surgery to remove the ovaries if you're genetically high risk for ovarian cancer, if you're finished having children, or over 35.

But Chloe was 36 and single when she found out her risk.

"I didn't have any kids, I didn't have any prospects. There was something that felt wrong about making the decision without a partner," Brown said.

Three years later she found her partner and husband. They tried having children but couldn't so she finally had the operation later that year.

But fertility is not the only concern.

The ovaries make estrogen so removing them essentially puts a woman into medical menopause and with that comes a long list of symptoms.

"Loss of estrogen can affect memory, bone breakdown, sexuality," Dr. Fishman said.

"The recovery was really hard; I don't want to sugarcoat it. Emotionally I was all over the place, I would have meltdowns," Brown said.

Now two years later, Chloe is taking hormone replacement therapy.

She and her husband are still hoping for children with the help of an egg donor and she's not looking back.

"There were moments, especially in that beginning, where I had regrets about it but I think no question it was the right decision," Brown said.

For more information please visit:

Mount Sinai Website: http://www.mountsinai.org/patient-care/service-areas/obgyn-and-reproductive-services/areas-of-care/gynecologic-oncology/ovarian-cancer

NCI.gov, and here is the ovarian cancer page: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/ovary

Foundationforwomenscancer.org, and here is the ovarian page: http://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/types-of-gynecologic-cancers/ovarian/

https://www.sgo.org/

Get more Health News »

cancer, womens health, health news, dr. sapna parikh

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•