Breast cancer – What does BRCA mean?
Breast cancer is a disease that is usually multifactorial in origin. This means that many internal and external circumstances contribute to the coincidence of breast cancer development. Angelina Jolie is one of the best known examples where a genetic mutation increases the risk of breast cancer.
She had her breasts and ovaries removed prophylactically after the results showed that the defects BRCA 1 and 2 were present. Approximately 5% of all breast cancer cases are hereditary, with a BRCA1 gene mutation in 40-50% and a BRCA2 gene mutation in 30-40%. These gene mutations increase the risk of breast cancer in their carriers to about 50-80%.
However, the mutations not only increase the likelihood of breast cancer, but also of colon cancer and ovarian cancer. In male carriers of mutations not only the probability of breast cancer but also of prostate cancer increases. However, it cannot be said with 100% certainty that cancer will actually occur.
However, in the case of a conspicuous genetic test, it is advisable to make use of early cancer detection measures in order to detect a possible cancer in time. A genetic examination should be carried out primarily by women, but also by men, if at least one or two breast and/or ovarian cancers have occurred in the family. Frequent risk factors are also a long fertile period, dense glandular tissue of the breast, certain nutritional and behavioural patterns, as well as external circumstances such as the environment or the handling of certain substances. Intensive early detection by means of more stringent diagnostic procedures can significantly increase the prognosis and possible chances of therapy in the event of breast cancer. Persons with the following family history should be tested: 3 women with breast cancer 2 women with ovarian cancer and/or breast cancer 2 women with breast cancer, at least one of whom is under 50 years of age 1 man with breast cancer and 1 woman with breast cancer
- 3Women with breast cancer
- 2Women with ovarian cancer and/or breast cancer
- 2Women with breast cancer, with at least one under 50 years of age
- 1 man with breast cancer and 1 woman with breast
All articles in this series:
- Genetic test – When is it useful?
- These hereditary diseases can be determined by genetic testing
- Implementation
- Costs of a genetic test
- Breast cancer – What does BRCA mean?
- Genetic test for colorectal cancer
- Determine parentage and origin
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Can rheumatism be detected in the genetic test?
- Estimate the risk of thrombosis in a genetic test?
