[ PRINT ]
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
"Confronting Cancer Through Art" is an exhibition by people whose lives have been touched by cancer.
This week's artwork was donated
by
a pediatric cancer patient
who received treatment for cancer
at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
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NAPBC: Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer Risk: It's Your ChoiceAffiliation: National Action Plan on Breast Cancer Posted Date: November 23, 1997 ![]()
What is a gene? Genes are nature's blueprints for every living thing. Genes come in pairs: one set of genes is passed down {or inherited) from your mother and the other set from your father. Genes determine how your body will function and grow, as well as the color of your hair and eyes. How might genes affect breast cancer risk? Some genes do not function properly because there is a mistake in them. If a gene has a mistake, it is said to be mutated or altered. In fact, all people have altered forms of some genes. Some alterations can increase your risk for certain illnesses such as cancer. In recent years, gene alterations have been found in some families with a history of breast cancer. Some women in these families also have had ovarian cancer. These alterations are most often found in genes named BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer Gene I and BReast CAncer Gene 2). Both men and women have BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, so alterations in these genes can be passed down from either the mother or the father. It is likely that more genes like these will be discovered in the future. Does every woman with an altered breast cancer gene get cancer? A woman with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 alteration is more likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer than is a woman without an alteration. However, not every woman who has an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene will get breast or ovarian cancer, because genes are not the only factor that affect cancer risk. Therefore, an altered gene is not sufficient to cause cancer. Most cases of breast cancer do not involve an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. At most, 1 in 10 breast cancer cases involves an inherited altered gene, and not all inherited breast cancer involves BRCA1 or BRCA2. Do men with an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene have an increased cancer risk? Although breast cancer is rare even in men with an altered gene, men with an altered BRCA2 gene have higher rates of breast cancer than men without an altered gene. Men with an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene may also have a slightly increased risk of prostate cancer. Even if a man never develops cancer, he can pass the altered gene to his sons and daughters. What is genetic testing for cancer risk? Genetic testing is a process in which it is possible to look for genetic alterations that may be associated with an increased risk of particular cancers. Genetic testing may reveal whether the cancer risk in a family is passed through their genes. Although the lab test itself is quite complex, only a blood sample is needed. Genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer risk involves looking for altered genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Because finding an altered gene can take several weeks or months, test results may not be readily available. The price of testing also varies. The price can be quite high and may not be covered by health insurance, or you may not want your insurance company to know you were tested. Ask your doctor or other health professionals for more information on genetic testing and health insurance coverage. What should I think about before getting tested?
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