Breast Cancer Risk Assessment & Counseling Clinic
Your Risk for Breast or Ovarian Cancer
In every family, certain traits are shared and passed on from one generation to the next. Most obvious are physical traits such as eye or hair color. Less obvious are inherited genetic traits that control the tendency to develop specific diseases, such as certain cancers. You don’t actually inherit the disease, but rather you inherit a higher risk of developing it.
You could have an inherited risk for breast and/or ovarian cancer if:
- you were diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50 and/or ovarian cancer at any age
- you have close family members on either mother’s or father’s side who were diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50, ovarian cancer at any age, or male breast cancer at any age
Even if there is a pattern of certain cancers in your family, cancer does not have to be inevitable. You may benefit from learning more about your own risk. Current cancer research shows that early detection, along with proactive medical care, has been proven to help reduce cancer risk and save lives.
Breast & Ovarian Cancer
About 10% of breast and ovarian cancers are hereditary – that is, they are due to a mutated (altered) gene passed on from parent to child. Two specific genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2 play a significant role in preventing breast and ovarian cancers. When mutations occur in these genes, there is a loss of control on cell growth. Certain groups of cells can grow at an abnormally fast rate and cancer may develop. You inherit two copies of every gene – one from your mother and one from your father. If either parent carries a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, you may carry it, too.
Important Facts:
v Women with a BRCA mutation have:
· a 33%-50% risk of developing breast cancer by age 50 and a 56%-87% risk by age 70
· a 27%-44% chance of developing ovarian cancer by age 70
v Certain mutations of the BRCA genes are more common among people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (Central or Eastern European)
v Half of all women with a hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancers inherited the risk from their fathers, not their mothers
v BRCA mutations also increase the risk for other cancers in both men and women, including up to a 6% risk for male breast cancer.
v For those who have breast or ovarian cancer, having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation could mean a higher risk for developing a second cancer
Test for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer
The hereditary breast cancer test is not like a mammogram. It is specifically for individuals thought to be at high risk of breast or ovarian cancer. It consists of a blood test that detects mutations in the genetic code of BRCA1 and BRCA2. Only a small blood sample is taken for analysis. The test does not tell you whether you have cancer; it estimates your risk for breast or ovarian cancer so a personalized cancer risk reduction plan can be developed for you, which could include increased surveillance, preventive drug therapy and/or preventive surgery.
The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Counseling Clinic at WFUBMC Comprehensive Cancer Center offers a program that will help determine your risk level. Before testing even begins, you will meet with a nurse counselor to do a comprehensive evaluation of your family history. If your family history indicates that the cancers are likely hereditary in nature, genetic testing can be discussed and arranged.
Knowing your risk – and doing everything you can to lower it – could make a big difference for you, your family, and for your future health care choices. Today, many health insurance plans pay for assessment programs. Now is the time to ask your health care provider about hereditary cancer risk assessment and testing, and how it can benefit you.
Enrollment begins with a simple phone call. If you decide to participate in the program, a risk assessment form will be mailed to you to complete. Once we’ve received the form and analyzed the information, we will call you to schedule a counseling session. If you are concerned about your chances of developing breast or ovarian cancer and want to take steps to reduce risks and increase chances for early detection, contact us today at our Health On-Call® information line. (800) 446-2255.