Removing healthy ovaries helps women with genetic risk lower odds for breast, ovarian cancer

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Benefits seen for high-risk women in ovary removal

CHICAGO — New research suggests surgery to remove healthy ovaries gives a triple benefit to some women at high risk for cancer. It lowers their threat of breast and ovarian cancer, and boosts their chances of living longer.

The women in the study had BRCA gene mutations. They got counseling to help them decide between preventive surgery or more screening to watch for signs of cancer. The study is the largest to date to find advantages from surgery for these high-risk women.

The study appears in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association.