預防性手術是將目前正常的器官,將來罹患癌症風險高的器官的摘除手術。現年39歲,知名明星安潔莉娜裘莉(Angelina Jolie),繼兩年前預防性切除兩側乳房後,在今年3月24日,再次投書美國紐約時報,表示一週前,再度行預防性手術,切除兩側卵巢輸卵管。這位女星母親,阿姨和祖母都分別死於卵巢癌和乳癌,帶有乳癌基因,BRCA1突變,因為罹癌風險升高而做了兩次預防性手術。每次手術後都自動投書,不但一再的引起全球的矚目和關注,同時也教育了我們。
Prophylactic surgery is to excise tissues or organs which, though not yet been touched by cancer, carry a high risk of developing cancer in the future. Angelina Jolie’s surgery, a preventive double mastectomy and a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, opens up discussion for women who have a strong family history like Jolie. The most important things we have learned are: (1)discussion with a knowledgeable and trusted expert is an important part of the decision-making process procedure. (2)BRCA testing is not a routine procedure. A positive BRCA genetic mutation does not mean a person has cancer. It just means there are options to consider. (3)to learn about the options and choose what is right for you personally. (4)women convinced to get the prophylactic surgery with the rise in popularity of reconstructive operation must be considered. (5)a newly joint effort, recently called "BRCA share", which tried to pool gene data to better interpret mutations in BRCA1/2 genes, could help determine whether certain mutations raise the risk of cancer.