TY - JOUR TI - Counseling BRCA1/BRCA2 positive women over the age of 75 regarding risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO): the perspectives of genetic counselors DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-rhq5-0950 PY - 2019 AB - Current literature suggests that, in general, RRSO is valuable for women who carry a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation, but there is limited literature regarding the benefits and risks of RRSO for BRCA1/BRCA2 positive women over the age of 75. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) for women with a BRCA1 mutation by the age of 35-40 and women with a BRCA2 mutation to have a RRSO by the age of 40-45 or after the completion of childbearing. NCCN does not provide upper age limit recommendations for RRSO and ovarian cancer management. Therefore, limitations to current studies and lack of professional guidelines for BRCA1/ BRCA2 positive women over the age of 75 pretenses the question if RRSO is an appropriate medical management option for this patient population. A survey was sent out through the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) to genetic counselors registered to the Cancer Special Interest Group (SIG) email listserv to investigate if cancer genetic counselors feel RRSO is an appropriate medical management option for women over the age of 75 who carry a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation, and if they feel confident counseling this patient population. In addition, it explored if differing patient factors influence cancer genetic counselors’ feelings toward RRSO as an appropriate option and what resources are used when counseling this patient population. Overall, the majority of survey respondents (70%) reported that they felt RRSO was appropriate for a 77-year-old woman who carries a BRCA1 mutation. Answers differed significantly when the patient was 85-years-old or had comorbidities such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Overall, there is inconsistency in survey respondents’ opinions regarding RRSO for this patient population, and our study results found this to be particularly true when counseling BRCA1/BRCA2 positive patients who are 85-years-old or have comorbid conditions. Additional research and development of professional guidelines are needed to help standardize care in regard to ovarian cancer risk reduction for this patient population. KW - Genetic counselor KW - Microbiology and Molecular Genetics KW - Genetic counseling KW - Older women -- Health risk assessment LA - English ER -