For the last few weeks we have been talking about the ins and out for breast cancer and the genetic testing for it. For those of you who are stopping by for the first time, well first of all, welcome, and secondly I thought a small and comprehensive little FAQ would be the best thing. If you want to know more detail, feel free to go through my blog and get more detail.
So Let’s start!
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the body located in the mammary glands, but can spread through out the body.
What are
BRCA1 and BRCA 2?
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that belong to a class
of genes known as tumor suppressors. They are two most common genes mutated in
breast and ovarian cancer. Mutations can be inherited (leading to a
predisposition to the cancer) or acquired.
If I test
positive for BRCA1 or 2 what does that mean?
A person’s risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer
is much higher if they inherit a harmful mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2. Unfortunately,
with this inherited mutation, the cancer is more likely to develop at a much,
much earlier age.
Should I be
tested for BRCA mutations?
Going to your doctor as well as speaking to a genetic
counselour will help you understand whether you should or should not have the
genetic testing done. Signs that you should consider genetic testing are as
follow:
·
Many
family members with cancer diagnoses throughout several generations, either from
your mother’s side or through your fathers side.
·
Family
members who have been diagnosed with multiple cancers (for example, breast and
ovarian)
How does
genetic testing work?
A genetic test for the BRCA mutations involves a give a
blood sample at your doctors office for analysis. The results will come back in several weeks.
What do the
test results mean?
A positive test for a deleterious mutation means the
person has inherited a genetic mutation on the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. This means
a higher risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer, and that they are
predisposed. It is not a guarantee that
they actually will develop the cancer.
A negative test means there is not an inherited genetic mutation in the BRCA genes. This does not mean that there is a guarantee that the person will not ever develop cancer in their lifetime. There are many, many genes that are involved in breast, ovarian, and other cancers, and some of them are still unknown.
A negative test means there is not an inherited genetic mutation in the BRCA genes. This does not mean that there is a guarantee that the person will not ever develop cancer in their lifetime. There are many, many genes that are involved in breast, ovarian, and other cancers, and some of them are still unknown.
What are my
options if I have a positive test result?
You have several options to manage your cancer risk.
The first thing is surveillance. With this you should begin cancer screenings at an earlier age, including mammography and breast MRI.
Another option is surgery. Women usually have their ovaries removed. This would reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Counseling is very important if one decides to have the surgery. As always, timing is everything. Please take into consideration family planning, and at what age the cancer would more likely develop.
There is also the option for medication. There are two drugs that have been shown to decrease the risk of breast cancer: tamoxifen and raloxifene. Both are taken as a daily pill.
The first thing is surveillance. With this you should begin cancer screenings at an earlier age, including mammography and breast MRI.
Another option is surgery. Women usually have their ovaries removed. This would reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Counseling is very important if one decides to have the surgery. As always, timing is everything. Please take into consideration family planning, and at what age the cancer would more likely develop.
There is also the option for medication. There are two drugs that have been shown to decrease the risk of breast cancer: tamoxifen and raloxifene. Both are taken as a daily pill.
For those of you who do not know what the fox says, here is a little video to help you out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofNR_WkoCE
References:
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/moreinformation/medicinestoreducebreastcancer/medicines-to-reduce-breast-cancer-risk-tamoxifen
http://cdn-usa.gagbay.com/2013/09/what_does_the_fox_say-360952.jpg
http://www.holisticsquid.com/holistickidwordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Questions1.jpg
I found this FAQ very informative because with breast cancer in my family I always worry testing.
ReplyDeleteMerna, it is a well-established fact that the fox say, “ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding.” Anyways, I thought your FAQ was thorough and informative. I liked how you incorporated humor into your topic; it appeals to the masses and it lightens the overall tone of your post. I wonder what are the molecular mechanisms behind the drugs Tamoxifen and Raloxifen? Does it affect BRCA1 and BRCA2 in any way?
ReplyDeleteThis FAQ was very informative and I got a lot out of it. This will help a lot of people who are worried about having breast cancer in the future. Great write up!
ReplyDeleteFAQs, especially those about breast cancer, are extremely important because the number of patients that visit their healthcare providers without knowing the proper questions is not just occasional, but common. Well done, in taking a very complex topic and turning it into FAQs.
ReplyDeletePatients who consider getting a genetic testing done must be scared of the results and must not know what to ask their doctor. This F&Q clarifies what patients should look for and what they should ask their doctor if they consider of getting a test. Great job as per usual Merna!
ReplyDelete