Open AccessQuality‐of‐life implications of risk‐reducing cancer surgery
Author(s) -
Altman A. M.,
Hui J. Y. C.,
Tuttle T. M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
british journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.202
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1365-2168
pISSN - 0007-1323
DOI - 10.1002/bjs.10725
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , quality of life (healthcare) , surgery , quality (philosophy) , cancer surgery , intensive care medicine , general surgery , nursing , philosophy , epistemology
Background Modern advances in genetic sequencing techniques have allowed for increased availability of genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes. Consequently, more people are being identified as mutation carriers and becoming aware of their increased risk of malignancy. Testing is commonplace for many inheritable cancer syndromes, and with that comes the knowledge of being a gene carrier for some patients. With increased risk of malignancy, many guidelines recommend that gene carriers partake in risk reduction strategies, including risk‐reducing surgery for some syndromes. This review explores the quality‐of‐life consequences of genetic testing and risk‐reducing surgery. Methods A narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE was performed, focusing on the health‐related quality‐of‐life implications of surgery for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. Results Risk‐reducing surgery almost uniformly decreases cancer anxiety and affects patients' quality of life. Conclusion Although the overwhelming quality‐of‐life implications of surgery are neutral to positive, risk‐reducing surgery is irreversible and can be associated with short‐ and long‐term side‐effects.