prophylactic surgery

the removal of an organ prior to the expected onset of cancer in that organ, usually because the individual has a positive family history of the disease or is a carrier of a predisposing mutation. For example, women who carry mutations in genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 (see BRCA1 and BRCA2) or p53 are at greatly increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer and may consider prophylactic surgery. Prophylactic mastectomy is the surgical removal of one or both breasts prior to a diagnosis of breast cancer. Prophylactic ovariectomy is the surgical removal of the ovaries prior to a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Prophylactic thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of the thyroid gland prior to the onset of medullary thyroid cancer in individuals at increased risk for MEN2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia, Type 2), a hereditary cancer syndrome. The emotional impact of prophylactic surgery in such patients is under study.

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Psychology term of the day

February 25th 2025

transcultural psychotherapy

any form of psychodynamic psychotherapy that emphasizes cultural sensitivity and awareness, including culturally defined concepts of emotion, drives, and behavior. In the psychiatric community, the term is used somewhat more often in a sense similar to multicultural therapy in clinical psychology.