BRCA1 and ovarian cancer: Individuals identified as BRCA1/2 gene mutation carriers can potentially reduce the risk associated with breast/ovarian cancer by electing to undergo risk-reducing surgery, chemoprevention, or regular surveillance to detect cancer at an early stage when it is more treatable (Hendrick et al, 1997; Hartmann et al, 2001; Rebbeck et al, 2002).