Study reveals lower risk of developing breast cancer for some ovarian cancer survivors

A recent NIHR-supported study found that women treated for ovarian cancer due to faulty BRCA genes have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than previously thought. The study, conducted by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, assessed 701 women with faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes who were treated for ovarian cancer.

Results showed that women had a lower risk of breast cancer in the first five years post-ovarian cancer compared to those without ovarian cancer, potentially due to platinum-based chemotherapy. Breast cancer rates for BRCA2 carriers were 3.3% at 2 years, 6.2% at 5 years, 10.4% at 10 years, and 20.3% at 15 years. For BRCA1 carriers, rates were 2.1% at 2 years, 5.0% at 5 years, 15.0% at 10 years, and 29.1% at 15 years.

Published in *Genetics in Medicine*, the study indicates that while the risk remains low for up to 10 years, it increases afterward. Women with long-term life expectancy should discuss increased breast cancer risks with their clinicians and consider options like MRI screening and preventive mastectomy.