What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of
cells in the breast. This uncontrolled growth is caused by mistakes (mutations)
in the genes of these cells. These genes act as a set of instructions for the
cell to follow. When these "instructions" are changed by the
mutations it completely switches how the cell can work. In cancer, the set of
instructions on when to grow and divide is changed, and the cells go on a
growth frenzy!
A collection of
cancer cells is called a tumor. Breast cancer is defined when someone has a
malignant (dangerous) tumor located in the part of the breast that is
responsible for making milk. Malignant tumors are considered dangerous because
they can invade other parts of the body and grow there. This is called metastasis.
What genetic
testing can someone get for Breast Cancer?
While mammograms are used to diagnose women above the age of 50 for breast cancer, now, younger women are going to geneticists, to see if they are more likely (predisposed) to have cancer. To be genetically predisposed for breast cancer means that you have inherited one gene
While mammograms are used to diagnose women above the age of 50 for breast cancer, now, younger women are going to geneticists, to see if they are more likely (predisposed) to have cancer. To be genetically predisposed for breast cancer means that you have inherited one gene
that has mistakes (mutations) in its
instructions. These mutations are usually found in the BRCA 1 & 2 (BReast
CAncer genes 1&2). Scientists can now do genetic testing to determine
whether someone has received one of the faulty genes from their parents, and is
now more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. This is done with Single
Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) .SNPs is when there is a change in one of
the nucleotides in the gene.
How often are these mutations passed on from parent to child?
These abnormalities are sometimes passed on
from mother/father to their children. This is rather rare, accumulating only
5-10% of all breast cancer patients. This still means that there is a change in
the genes for the patient, the only difference is HOW the change occurred,
whether is an inherited mistake from their parents, or a mistake by the cells
themselves.
References:
You post is very easy to read and to understand. I like it. You have successfully explained with breast cancer is and what can be done to help other to determine whether they are more likely or less likely to get breast cancer. Just a few questions, how is genetic testing actually done? what do they need or what needs to be done in order to have the test?
ReplyDeleteReally informative blog. I have done a little research on breast cancer back when my mother was diagnosed. And I always wanted to know what kind of testing I could do, to screen for predisposition myself. I find your blog extremely informative and well organized. Nice visuals- Karen
ReplyDeleteMerna, this is a great introduction to genetic testing for breast cancer. I think your use of casual diction allows people from different age-groups to understand this complex subject. Your deliberate choice of font colors and sizes, although seems trivial, actually makes the reading experience very pleasant. I also enjoyed your images, all of which were perfectly sized and readable. Your topic is very interesting, and I look forward to reading your next chapter.
ReplyDeleteThe post is really easy to read and understand for people who wants to gain knowledge about breast cancer. I'm glad that you showed that only 5-10% of patients actually inherit the gene from their parents. This is great because a lot of people assume that if your parents have breast cancer, most likely you would have it too. This is very well written and very informative.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing decoration and design - it perfectly fits the theme of Breast Cancer. I really would love to read more of the specific steps that mutations actually occur and how is the current world of medical research trying to solve these unfortunate mutation. I am always interested in cancer, but never read specifically about breast cancer, so I hope to know more about therapeutic possibilities and what direction is biomedical research going.
ReplyDelete