«Non I want to feel guilty for not having removed the ovaries immediately». Bianca Balti It is not there. And to those who point their finger when you touch this topic says: “It is not an easy decision.” In an interview with Vanity Fair, The model returns to talk about the disease against which he is fighting: an ovarian cancer in the third stage. In 2022 the top model was diagnosed the genetic mutation brca1which increases the risk of developing breast and/or ovar tumors. In 2023 he underwent preventive mastectomy. He had also thought of removing the ovaries. But he postponed the intervention because – as he had already explained – he wanted another son. A choice for which he received several criticisms. On which he now wants to clarify and, although being a spokesperson for the importance of prevention, invites us not to underestimate the fears of a woman.
On the subject we heard the Dr. Patrizia Pasanisi, SSD Director Nutritional and Metabolomic Research at the IRCCS Foundation National Cancer Institute e Responsible for the e-brave study on women with brca genetic mutation.
Bianca Balti: “I don’t want to feel guilty for not having removed the ovaries immediately”
Tackling the preventive mastectomy was not easy for the model. «You don’t know what impact will have on your physical appearance and I work with my body. It’s not a walk: I made a courageous choice by taking my breasts. Knowing that you are predisposed is a speech, making the operation another. I recommend it to everyone, of course. But it’s not easy », he explains to Vanity Fair. Adding: «I was doing all the checks and I had decided to postpone. Getting safe and preventing is a theme that I want to be a spokesman. But I don’t want to feel guilty for not having removed the ovaries immediately. It is diminuing ».
And invites not to underestimate the mood of a person who receives certain diagnoses: “You can’t leave a single woman in her fears. And judge it thinking is an easy decision to make. It is scary. Your body changes you. It makes you go to early menopause. There is a complexity that should not be diminished. Or those who discover this genetic mutation will find themselves alone and not able to choose ».
BRCA mutation, how risky not to do the intervention to the ovaries?
Bianca Balti at Paris Fashion Week (IPA)
«In women with mutations of the BRCA genes (1 or 2) The risk of developing ovarian cancer during life is about 35-40% for women with BRCA1 mutations, and a little lower (about 11-17%) for women with BRCA2 mutations»Explains Dr. Pasanisi.
“In women Brca1 ovarian cancer can already arise from 40 years, in BRCA2 women in general more latefrom 50 years old. If we think that in women not changed the risk of ovarian carcinoma is less than 2%, it is easy to understand that for women with BRCA mutations not to undergo the bilateral annexyctomy prophylactic surgery intervention (removal of ovaries and tube) involves exposing itself to a very high risk of disease “.
BRCA mutation, when to do the intervention to the ovaries and what changes compared to mastectomy?
“Compared to the prophylactic master, which can already be recommended from 25 years (especially in the case of BRCA1 mutations), the‘Annexiectomy can be carried out subsequently, precisely by virtue of the latest risk of ovarian carcinoma and the respect for the desire for maternity of the woman “ underlines the expert. Bilateral annexiectomy is in fact proposed to BRCA women who have already had children or those already in menopause.
“The intervention is indicated between 35 and 45 years for BRCA1 women and between 45 and 50 years for BRCA2 women. Bilateral annexiectomy is also proposed in other hereditary syndromes, such as in Lynch syndrome (together with hysterectomy) “.
Can the intervention be avoided if you make more close checks?
“Unfortunately to date There are no truly effective methods to diagnose ovarian cancer early, And the aggression of these tumors, if diagnosed in advanced phase, means that prophylactic surgery is the main preventive option to be discussed with women who inherit a mutation of the BRCA genes “, continues Dr. Pasanisi.
“It is important, then, to remember that bilateral annexiectomy reduces the risk of ovarian cancer of about 80%, and, for the reduced hormonal stimulation, also of breast cancer (of about 50%)”.
What does the removal intervention of the ovaries entail for a woman?
«The intervention leads to an early menopause, con all the consequences due to the lack of hormonal production by the ovaries. The disorders that follow are, therefore, the same as the natural menopause but can be more marked and difficult to manage because they insurgent abruptly and not gradually “, explains the expert. Among the most common disorders there are “The hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes and, over time, greater risk of metabolic and osteoporosis imbalances “.
What is the e-brave study on women with BRCA mutation
A prospective study called prospective study started at the IRCCS Foundation National Cancer Institute E-Brave, who aims to recruit women with BRCA mutations and study the role of lifestyle in the onset of tumors related to the BRCA mutation.
The study, all conveyed by a mobile application, the BRCAPP, collects information through short questionnaires via app and provides many life content life to changed women (nutritional content, videos, videos, videos etc.). More than 1000 changed women have already downloaded the BRCAPP and have entered the study.
For information https://bravestudy.net
E-Brave is also on the Instagram social channels, Facebook and Tiktok
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