Uptake of breast cancer risk-management strategies among unaffected BRCA 1/2 carriers: a systematic review of international evidence.
Women with BRCA mutations worldwide vary dramatically in choosing preventive surgery, revealing that access and cultural factors—not just medical need—shape risk management decisions.
This systematic review synthesizes 32 international studies on risk management uptake among unaffected BRCA1/2 carriers, revealing extreme variability in risk-reducing mastectomy uptake (0–81.6%) that correlates with regional cultural and healthcare access differences rather than clinical indication, while surveillance adherence is consistently high. The marked international inequity in surgical risk reduction uptake identifies a priority target for health system and counseling interventions to achieve equitable access to preventive care in the growing population of BRCA carrier women identified through population-level genomic testing.
What the study was
- Study design
- Systematic review (PRISMA guidelines; 32 studies, 1995–2025)
- Population
- Unaffected BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers across international settings (32 studies from multiple countries)
- Category
- Prevention
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology
Why it surfaced
Comprehensive international systematic review defines the range and determinants of BRCA risk management uptake; findings directly inform genetic counseling, health policy, and equitable access initiatives as BRCA testing scales population-wide.
A plain-language summary of published research — not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about your own care.