Women at high risk of developing cancer of the ovaries and breasts should consider radical surgery to protect themselves, according to a Manchester professor.
A study in Manchester found that surgery halved the risk of women developing breast cancer and cut the risk of ovarian cancer.
Both cancers are linked to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
Recently Hollywood star Angelina Jolie announced she was undergoing major surgery after discovering she was at risk.
Professor Gareth Evans, of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, has reported a study of 691 women identified as carrying mutations in the two genes.
Women were offered the chance of undergoing removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
The findings were reported in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Professor Evans said removing the ovaries was the most effective method of preventing cancer.
He said: "The research shows a major benefit from undergoing risk-reducing surgery, particularly removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes which reduces the risk of both ovarian cancer greatly and breast cancer by about half."
He added: “In the past some women have thought that MRI screening is so good that they don’t need to have removal surgery but our research has shown despite intensive screening quite a few of these women, particularly with the more aggressive BRCA1 gene, were dying and perhaps being lulled into a false sense of security by screening.
“Following Angelina’s announcement there has been a three-fold increase in the number of women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer coming forward asking about surgery. It really has raised the public awareness of this."
Risk-reducing surgery increases survival in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers unaffected at time of family referral. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 5 November 2013
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