Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center investigators have discovered that Chromosome 6 has an area that is linked with breast cancer in Asian women. It is now recommended that Asian women should be regularly screened from 35 or 40 onwards.
Scientist already know that genetics plays a role in the disease and that some breast cancer susceptibility genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, account for only a small part of all genetic causes. Mutations in these genes increase the risk of inherited forms of breast cancers. Most of the genetic factors responsible for the vast majority of cases are still undiscovered.
The research team assessed the families of 277 women in whom mutations in the breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 had been identified. Of these women, 190 had breast cancer, 48 had ovarian cancer, and 33 had both. Only six were free of cancer.
Based on their findings, the researchers calculated that first degree relatives testing negative for BRCA1 and 2 still had around three times the risk of developing breast cancer by the age of 50 as compared to the general population.
This discovery of the link between Asian breast cancer and Chromosome 6 will be written up in the journal, Nature Genetics.
Showing posts with label genetic breast cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genetic breast cancer. Show all posts
GENETIC / HEREDITARY BREAST & OVARIAN CANCER
Every 1 in 9 people (men and women) will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. This is about 200,000 people per year. Researchers and scientists suspect up to 25% of these cancers are hereditary mutations on our genes.
Scientists are naming these genes BRCA (BReast CAncer) with a number afterward. They have been nicknamed "broken genes." The BRCA1 gene was the first one to be discovered. It is on the 17th chromosome. A second one, BRCA2, was discovered on the 13th chromosome. Right now BRCA1 & 2 are suspected for causing about 0.2 percent of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. They are the current "leaders" in cause by their share of percentage. Scientists feel upward of 25% of all breast cancers are genetic in some way and they are on the verge of identifying a BRCA3, also on the 13th chromosome.
If you have a "broken gene" you are not guarenteed to develop cancer. Your risk is just higher than that of the general popular so doing monthly self-exams, getting annual mammograms and clinical checkups are very important to catching it early, getting treatment right way, and perhaps saving your life. You can take medication which will cut your risk in half.
If you have parents, siblings or aunts/uncles with breast cancer then you are considered at "high" risk of having a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. If one of your parents has breast cancer, then your risk is 50/50. If you or your spouse has hereditary breast cancer or carry a broken gene, then each of your children have a 50/50 risk of developing it.
There is a simple (for you) blood test to see if you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jews are 10 times more likely than the general population to have these two hereditary mutuations. If there is breast or ovarian cancer in your family tree, pressure your doctor to order the test. My insurance covered the cost (in full) which is good because it's several thousand dollars. My results were negative.
Don't rule out the men for developing breast cancer (1% of all breast cancers are men) or passing down a broken gene. Every year about 2000 men develop breast cancer and 450 will die from it. The famous "Shaft" actor Richard Roundtree has breast cancer. See this link for more on him: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/OnCallPlusBreastCancerNews/story?id=4028791. There is also a website for men and breast cancer. See http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/breastcancer.html.
SOURCES:
National Institue of Health
National Human Genome Research Institute
.
.
Scientists are naming these genes BRCA (BReast CAncer) with a number afterward. They have been nicknamed "broken genes." The BRCA1 gene was the first one to be discovered. It is on the 17th chromosome. A second one, BRCA2, was discovered on the 13th chromosome. Right now BRCA1 & 2 are suspected for causing about 0.2 percent of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. They are the current "leaders" in cause by their share of percentage. Scientists feel upward of 25% of all breast cancers are genetic in some way and they are on the verge of identifying a BRCA3, also on the 13th chromosome.
If you have a "broken gene" you are not guarenteed to develop cancer. Your risk is just higher than that of the general popular so doing monthly self-exams, getting annual mammograms and clinical checkups are very important to catching it early, getting treatment right way, and perhaps saving your life. You can take medication which will cut your risk in half.
If you have parents, siblings or aunts/uncles with breast cancer then you are considered at "high" risk of having a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. If one of your parents has breast cancer, then your risk is 50/50. If you or your spouse has hereditary breast cancer or carry a broken gene, then each of your children have a 50/50 risk of developing it.
There is a simple (for you) blood test to see if you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jews are 10 times more likely than the general population to have these two hereditary mutuations. If there is breast or ovarian cancer in your family tree, pressure your doctor to order the test. My insurance covered the cost (in full) which is good because it's several thousand dollars. My results were negative.
Don't rule out the men for developing breast cancer (1% of all breast cancers are men) or passing down a broken gene. Every year about 2000 men develop breast cancer and 450 will die from it. The famous "Shaft" actor Richard Roundtree has breast cancer. See this link for more on him: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/OnCallPlusBreastCancerNews/story?id=4028791. There is also a website for men and breast cancer. See http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/breastcancer.html.
SOURCES:
National Institue of Health
National Human Genome Research Institute
.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
