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. 2024 Jan 1;25(1):3-7.
doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.1.3.

Ten-Year Follow-Up of Women at High Risk for Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer in Otago and Southland, New Zealand

Simone Petrich  1 , Erin McKergow  1 , Suzannah Bawden  2 , Jan Sullivan  2
Affiliations

Ten-Year Follow-Up of Women at High Risk for Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer in Otago and Southland, New Zealand

Simone Petrich et al. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. .

Abstract

Background: Care for families affected by Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer (FBOC) is challenging as a broad range of professions and specialties are involved. The aim was to review management and outcomes for a cohort of women at high risk for familial breast and ovarian cancer.

Methods: Ten-year retrospective follow-up study of individuals in Southern New Zealand assessed by Genetic Health Service New Zealand to be high risk for FBOC and without a personal cancer diagnosis at time of consultation.

Results: Twenty women were identified; twelve underwent genetic testing, and a pathogenic BRCA variant was identified in eleven. Eight women had no testing, as no index case was available. Guidelines had been fully adhered to in 55% of women, regardless of BRCA status. Six did not undergo appropriate breast surveillance. To date, seven of the 11 patients who tested positive for a pathogenic BRCA variant (64%) had risk-reducing surgeries. Two women were diagnosed with breast cancer on surveillance imaging; none were diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Four women were lost to follow-up, one of whom subsequently presented with a symptomatic breast cancer.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study providing long-term data for FBOC in New Zealand. Overall, guidelines were followed satisfactorily, but some women did not receive appropriate surveillance or referrals. An integrated interdisciplinary long-term care provision model in New Zealand might help to address gaps in FBOC surveillance and management.

Keywords: Hereditary Cancer Syndromes; New Zealand; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prevention; breast cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study Population. Abbreviations: GHSNZ, Genetic Health Service New Zealand; FBOC, Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer; BRCA 1, pathogenic BRCA 1 variant identified; BRCA 2, pathogenic BRCA 2 variant identified; 1 Still (potentially), high risk due to strong family history, i.e.> 10% chance that pathogenic variant in family
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