Ovarian Cancer Canada is collaborating with the Gynecologic Cancer Survivorship Clinic (GCSC) in Vancouver, a specialized clinic that serves women in British Columbia at increased risk for ovarian cancer due to an inherited mutation in a hereditary cancer risk gene (these individuals are also known as “previvors”). The mission of this specialized clinic is to improve the quality of peri-operative care, education and hormone therapy support for previvors embarking on risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (surgical removal of their fallopian tubes and ovaries for prevention of ovarian cancer).

As part of an over-arching goal to optimize the pathway to ovarian cancer prevention for all individuals at high risk in Canada, OCC conducted preliminary investigations in 2019-2020 into the experience of previvors who had undergone genetic testing and/or risk-reducing surgery in their community. Surveys and semi-structured interviews from individuals across Canada revealed gaps and inequities along the pathway, from discussion of family history with primary care providers to timely access to genetic testing and risk-reducing surgery surgery.

In this study, semi-structured interviews will be conducted by OCC with previvors who have undergone risk-reducing surgery or are planning to undergo risk-reducing surgery and are being cared for at the GCSC. Interviewees can be at different steps along the prevention pathway: pre-surgical consultation performed, risk-reducing surgery performed or currently receiving follow-up care. The experience of previvors receiving care at this specialized centre will be compared to those who received care at a non-specialized centre (data previously collected by OCC), for variables such as adherence to clinical recommendations and satisfaction with the information and care provided.