The breast cancer genes, or BRCA genes, when acting the way they are supposed to do, suppress tumors in the breasts and ovaries. When they don’t act the way they are supposed to… well, that’s equivalent to a bunch of genes running around wringing their hands saying I duuno, what do I do? as malignant tumors grow. People with the BRCA gene mutations are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, as well as ovarian and other types of cancer.
But don’t run out just yet to get tested to see if you have one of these ominous gene mutations. There are some things you may not know.
1. The BRCA 1 and 2 mutations are pretty rare
Most cases of breast cancer are completely random—not due to BRCA genetic mutations at all. The overwhelming majority of people with breast cancer do not have BRCA mutations. Only 5-10 percent of cancers diagnosed in the US are linked to the BRCA gene mutations, so the general population is not at high risk.
2. Doctors don’t recommend genetic testing for everybody
As the BRCA gene mutations are relatively rare in the general population, doctors only recommend testing people with a family or personal history that would indicate elevated risk.
Factors that increase likelihood of carrying BRCA gene mutations
Breast cancer diagnosed before age 50 years
Cancer in both breasts in the same woman
Both breast and ovarian cancers in either the same woman or the same family
Multiple breast cancers
Two or more primary types of BRCA1- or BRCA2-related cancers in a single family member
Cases of male breast cancer
Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity
3. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are more common in certain racial/ethnic populations
People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a higher prevalence of harmful breast cancer gene mutations than people in the general U.S. population. Other ethnic and geographic populations, such as the Norwegian, Dutch, and Icelandic peoples, also have a higher prevalence of specific harmful BRCA1 andBRCA2 mutations.
4. Not everyone who tests positive for BRCA mutations has the exact same risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
In the past, researchers believed that anyone with the BRCA1 mutation had an 80 percent risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. However, this was based on studies of families with a lot of breast and ovarian cancer. More current studies done on women who have the BRCA gene mutation, but had fewer relatives who had had breast cancer, found that their risk was lower—more like a 37 to 60 percent chance.
5. Men can have the BRCA gene mutation
Both men and women can inherit and pass on a BRCA mutation. Men with a BRCA mutation have a lower chance of developing cancer than do women with a mutation, but their chances of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and a few other cancers are increased.
6. There are currently more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States
Deaths related to breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, according to statistics from the American Cancer Society, with women younger than 50 years of age showing the largest improvement. These improvements have been attributed to earlier diagnosis and better treatments. In other words, even if you test positive for one of the BRCA gene mutations, it is not a death sentence.
But don’t run out just yet to get tested to see if you have one of these ominous gene mutations. There are some things you may not know.
1. The BRCA 1 and 2 mutations are pretty rare
Most cases of breast cancer are completely random—not due to BRCA genetic mutations at all. The overwhelming majority of people with breast cancer do not have BRCA mutations. Only 5-10 percent of cancers diagnosed in the US are linked to the BRCA gene mutations, so the general population is not at high risk.
2. Doctors don’t recommend genetic testing for everybody
As the BRCA gene mutations are relatively rare in the general population, doctors only recommend testing people with a family or personal history that would indicate elevated risk.
Factors that increase likelihood of carrying BRCA gene mutations
Breast cancer diagnosed before age 50 years
Cancer in both breasts in the same woman
Both breast and ovarian cancers in either the same woman or the same family
Multiple breast cancers
Two or more primary types of BRCA1- or BRCA2-related cancers in a single family member
Cases of male breast cancer
Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity
3. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are more common in certain racial/ethnic populations
People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a higher prevalence of harmful breast cancer gene mutations than people in the general U.S. population. Other ethnic and geographic populations, such as the Norwegian, Dutch, and Icelandic peoples, also have a higher prevalence of specific harmful BRCA1 andBRCA2 mutations.
4. Not everyone who tests positive for BRCA mutations has the exact same risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
In the past, researchers believed that anyone with the BRCA1 mutation had an 80 percent risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. However, this was based on studies of families with a lot of breast and ovarian cancer. More current studies done on women who have the BRCA gene mutation, but had fewer relatives who had had breast cancer, found that their risk was lower—more like a 37 to 60 percent chance.
5. Men can have the BRCA gene mutation
Both men and women can inherit and pass on a BRCA mutation. Men with a BRCA mutation have a lower chance of developing cancer than do women with a mutation, but their chances of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and a few other cancers are increased.
6. There are currently more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States
Deaths related to breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, according to statistics from the American Cancer Society, with women younger than 50 years of age showing the largest improvement. These improvements have been attributed to earlier diagnosis and better treatments. In other words, even if you test positive for one of the BRCA gene mutations, it is not a death sentence.
RSS Feed