Thousands of cancer cases could be prevented with more breast removal surgeries
It can also be offered to women who are deemed to be high risk of the disease to prevent them from getting it in the first place.
A study has found that if more women were given preventative mastectomies, then about 6,500 cases of breast cancer could be prevented each year.
Risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM) are currently only offered to women with the BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2 genes, experts said.
But the new analysis suggests that some women with other genes linked to a higher risk of breast cancer – including ATM, CHEK2, RAD51C, RAD51D – who may also be at higher risk due to a number of other factors may benefit from RRM if they are assessed as having a high risk of disease.
These other factors can include a family history of breast cancer, the number of children they have had, whether or not they breast fed and mammogram density.
Women in the UK have an 11% chance of developing breast cancer across their lifetime.
Medics can calculate a woman's risk of breast cancer using tools which combine the effect of various risk factors.
This is your breast check reminder!
Learn the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.https://t.co/7zXDHWex5B pic.twitter.com/f5vHQx576r
— Breast Cancer Now (@BreastCancerNow) May 6, 2025
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) found that if health officials could identify all women aged 30 to 55 who have a 35% or higher risk of breast cancer, and they all went on to have RRM, then an estimated 6,538 breast cancer cases could be prevented in the UK each year.
This is the equivalent of around 11% of the 59,000 women in the UK who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
The academics point out that women who have one of the other genes linked to breast cancer, who may be at high risk of disease, could potentially be found by a mechanism called 'cascade testing' – where genetic tests are offered to family members of women who have been found to have these different genes linked to breast cancer.
The economic evaluation study, published in the journal JAMA Oncology, concludes: 'Undergoing RRM appears cost-effective for women at 30-55 years with a lifetime BC-risk 35% (or more).
'The results could have significant clinical implications to expand access to RRM beyond BRCA1/BRCA2/PALB2 pathogenic variant carriers.'
Corresponding author on the paper, Professor Ranjit Manchanda, professor of gynaecological oncology at Queen Mary and consultant gynaecological oncologist, said: 'We for the first time define the risk at which we should offer RRM.
'Our results could have significant clinical implications to expand access to mastectomy beyond those patients with known genetic susceptibility in high penetrance genes- BRCA1/ BRCA2/ PALB2 – who are traditionally offered this.
'This could potentially prevent can potentially prevent (around) 6500 breast cancer cases annually in UK women.
'We recommend that more research is carried out to evaluate the acceptability, uptake, and long-term outcomes of RRM among this group'.
Dr Rosa Legood, associate professor in health economics at LSHTM, added: 'Undergoing RRM is cost-effective for women (aged) 30 to 55-years with a lifetime breast cancer risk of 35% or more.
'These results can support additional management options for personalised breast cancer risk prediction enabling more women at increased risk to access prevention.'
Women deemed to be at high risk of breast cancer can also be offered regular screening and medication.
Louise Grimsdell, Breast Cancer Now senior clinical nurse specialist, said: 'While this modelling provides valuable insights into the cost-effectiveness of risk-reducing mastectomy for women with a high risk of developing breast cancer, each individual must be offered all risk-management options that are suitable for them.
'Choosing to have risk-reducing surgery is a complex and deeply personal decision that comes with emotional and physical implications.
'So, it's vital women can consider all their options, including screening and risk-reducing medications, and are supported by their clinician to make an informed decision that's right for them.
'It's also crucial that the unacceptably long waits that far too many women who chose risk-reducing surgery are facing are urgently tackled.'
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3 days ago
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The Gaza students with scholarships to UK unable to take up their places
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Sky News
3 days ago
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Thousands of cancer cases could be prevented with more breast removal surgeries, study suggests
Thousands of cancer cases could potentially be prevented if more women were offered breast removal surgery, according to a study. A mastectomy is offered to some people who already have breast cancer, but research suggests about 6,500 cases could be prevented each year if more preventative procedures were done. Risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM) are currently only an option for women with the BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2 genes. But the study says people with other genes - including ATM, CHEK2, RAD51C, RAD51D - might benefit if they also have other high-risk factors. These include family history of the disease, whether they breast fed, mammogram density and the number of children they've had. Researchers suggest that if all women 30 to 55 with a risk of 35% or more could be identified - and they all then had RRM - an estimated 6,538 cases could be prevented each year. That equates to about 11% of the 59,000 UK women diagnosed annually. The economic evaluation by Queen Mary University of London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said it would be a cost effective strategy. It added that women carrying one of the other genes linked to breast cancer could potentially be found by "cascade testing", in which tests are offered to family members. One of the authors said it was the first time a risk factor for offering RRM had been defined. "Our results could have significant clinical implications to expand access to mastectomy beyond those patients with known genetic susceptibility in high penetrance genes - BRCA1/ BRCA2/ PALB2 - who are traditionally offered this," said Professor Ranjit Manchanda, professor of gynaecological oncology at Queen Mary. "We recommend that more research is carried out to evaluate the acceptability, uptake, and long-term outcomes of RRM among this group," he added. Louise Grimsdell, Breast Cancer Now senior clinical nurse specialist, stressed that women should consider all options - not just surgery. "While this modelling provides valuable insights into the cost-effectiveness of risk-reducing mastectomy for women with a high risk of developing breast cancer, each individual must be offered all risk-management options that are suitable for them," she said. "Choosing to have risk-reducing surgery is a complex and deeply personal decision that comes with emotional and physical implications," added Ms Grimsdell. "So, it's vital women can consider all their options, including screening and risk-reducing medications, and are supported by their clinician to make an informed decision that's right for them. "It's also crucial that the unacceptably long waits that far too many women who chose risk-reducing surgery are facing are urgently tackled."
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
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Thousands of cancer cases could be prevented with more breast removal surgeries
Breast removal surgery, also known as a mastectomy, is offered to treat breast cancer in some women. It can also be offered to women who are deemed to be high risk of the disease to prevent them from getting it in the first place. A study has found that if more women were given preventative mastectomies, then about 6,500 cases of breast cancer could be prevented each year. Risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM) are currently only offered to women with the BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2 genes, experts said. But the new analysis suggests that some women with other genes linked to a higher risk of breast cancer – including ATM, CHEK2, RAD51C, RAD51D – who may also be at higher risk due to a number of other factors may benefit from RRM if they are assessed as having a high risk of disease. These other factors can include a family history of breast cancer, the number of children they have had, whether or not they breast fed and mammogram density. Women in the UK have an 11% chance of developing breast cancer across their lifetime. Medics can calculate a woman's risk of breast cancer using tools which combine the effect of various risk factors. This is your breast check reminder! Learn the signs and symptoms of breast — Breast Cancer Now (@BreastCancerNow) May 6, 2025 Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) found that if health officials could identify all women aged 30 to 55 who have a 35% or higher risk of breast cancer, and they all went on to have RRM, then an estimated 6,538 breast cancer cases could be prevented in the UK each year. This is the equivalent of around 11% of the 59,000 women in the UK who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. The academics point out that women who have one of the other genes linked to breast cancer, who may be at high risk of disease, could potentially be found by a mechanism called 'cascade testing' – where genetic tests are offered to family members of women who have been found to have these different genes linked to breast cancer. The economic evaluation study, published in the journal JAMA Oncology, concludes: 'Undergoing RRM appears cost-effective for women at 30-55 years with a lifetime BC-risk 35% (or more). 'The results could have significant clinical implications to expand access to RRM beyond BRCA1/BRCA2/PALB2 pathogenic variant carriers.' Corresponding author on the paper, Professor Ranjit Manchanda, professor of gynaecological oncology at Queen Mary and consultant gynaecological oncologist, said: 'We for the first time define the risk at which we should offer RRM. 'Our results could have significant clinical implications to expand access to mastectomy beyond those patients with known genetic susceptibility in high penetrance genes- BRCA1/ BRCA2/ PALB2 – who are traditionally offered this. 'This could potentially prevent can potentially prevent (around) 6500 breast cancer cases annually in UK women. 'We recommend that more research is carried out to evaluate the acceptability, uptake, and long-term outcomes of RRM among this group'. Dr Rosa Legood, associate professor in health economics at LSHTM, added: 'Undergoing RRM is cost-effective for women (aged) 30 to 55-years with a lifetime breast cancer risk of 35% or more. 'These results can support additional management options for personalised breast cancer risk prediction enabling more women at increased risk to access prevention.' Women deemed to be at high risk of breast cancer can also be offered regular screening and medication. Louise Grimsdell, Breast Cancer Now senior clinical nurse specialist, said: 'While this modelling provides valuable insights into the cost-effectiveness of risk-reducing mastectomy for women with a high risk of developing breast cancer, each individual must be offered all risk-management options that are suitable for them. 'Choosing to have risk-reducing surgery is a complex and deeply personal decision that comes with emotional and physical implications. 'So, it's vital women can consider all their options, including screening and risk-reducing medications, and are supported by their clinician to make an informed decision that's right for them. 'It's also crucial that the unacceptably long waits that far too many women who chose risk-reducing surgery are facing are urgently tackled.'
