title: Early cancer detection programmes for women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer: a proposal of practical guidelines.
abstract: Women from families with multiple breast and/or ovarian cancers may be at increased risk to develop breast/ovarian cancer themselves. Due to personal experience with family members having these diseases they are anxious and ask for specific prophylactic measurements or treatment. The detection of two susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, has given insight into the genetic background of part of the familial breast/ovarian cancer syndromes. This has led to an increased demand in genetic counselling, testing, and early cancer detection programmes. Prospective data from early cancer detection programmes in this high risk population are yet not available. Based on data from epidemiological risk studies, breast and ovarian screening programmes and follow up data from breast cancer trials recommendations for an early cancer detection programme have been summarized. At the present these recommendations are tested in a prospective trial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Schnürch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bodden-Heidrich
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mosny
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crombach
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achnoula
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Bender
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1 / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors