BRCA 1 and BRCA 2
The BRCA 1 and 2 genes are present in everyone, but in some people, they can be altered. Those alterations can lead to an increased chance of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Women who carry an alteration in the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes have a up to a 44% and 17% lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer respectively.
If you test positive for a BRCA 1 or 2 gene alteration, the most effective way of reducing your risk of ovarian cancer would be to have preventative surgery. This surgery is often referred to as risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RR-BSO), during which both ovaries and fallopian tubes are completely removed.
For many women, the decision to undergo preventative surgery is a difficult one, particularly if you find out that you have a BRCA gene alteration ahead of having completed a family. Any woman undergoing this surgery would not be able to have children and would have an early menopause.
It is known that between 20-40% of women who are offered the preventative surgery choose to delay or decline it, and up to 35% have not had the surgery 7 years after learning about their BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 alteration.
What is ROCA Care
If you are not ready to have preventative surgery, ROCA Care may be a helpful option. The ROCA Test is a surveillance test that monitors whether you are developing ovarian cancer. Four monthly use of the ROCA Test increasing your chances of catching ovarian cancer in it’s early stages.