Ovarian cancer and its being Hereditary

[gail47]

Dr. Goodman, my mother died of ovarian cancer in 1997 and I was diagnosed in 2002 and currently on my second recurrence.  I have always heard of ovarian cancer being hereditary and could be passed down to siblings.  I have a 15 year old daughter who I would not want her to go thru what I am currently experiencing.  What is your opinion on this and what steps do you think I should do to prevent this happening to her and what age should I start having exams done on her.  Her medical doc told me she should not have exams unless she was sexual active.    

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear Gail,
You ask a very important question. Ovarian cancer can be hereditary. With your history, your daughter may be at risk.
Here are some thoughts for you to discuss with your doctor:
You should ask about genetic screening. Presently we can check for BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutations. these are associated with ovarian cancer and breast cancer. If you are tested and are positive for one of these, then it makes sense for other female relative in your family including your daughter to consider being tested. If you are positive and your daughter is negative, then your daughter did not inherit your predisposition to developing ovarian cancer.
If you are negative, that means that the genetic mutation that is involved in your cancer is one that we do not yet have a screening test for.

Your daughter is very young and I would not worry at this time. However the single most effect intervention to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer is the birth control pill. It may be reasonable to consider this for your daughter until she is ready to start her family.

Finally, we do not have a screening test for ovarian cancer. The current recommendation for women at risk for ovarian cancer is to remove the ovaries when they have completed their families. There is debate about what age to consider this risk reducing surgery (RRSO) but in general I would suggest by age 40. However if you developed your cancer at an earlier age, then she should consider RRSO earlier than 40.
best wishes to you

[gail47]

Thanks for the info.  My daughter is 15 now and I am for sure that I will have gene testing done.

[Hazel30]

Hi, my Mom also went through ovca last year and altough it doesnt run in our family the first thing we did after she was done chemo was a genetic test.  If you do carry the mutation of the gene then your daughter should get tested for the mutation as well.  If she also carrys the gene then she should always have that noted on her medical records as far as gynocolagical exams go.  Im 26, but if I was in your shoes I would start as early as 15 on her exams.  Of course many other will have their own opinions.  Although there is not exact screening for ovca many doctors know what to look for especialy when they know that one carries a mutation for brca1 or brca2
Good Luck