Genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and next month starts Breast Cancer Awareness month. Genetic testing is emerging as a popular method to pinpoint those at risk.

Experts from Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) provide some clues as to who should be using these tests. They explain that women who have been diagnosed with cancer and/or people who have a strong family history of cancer can consider genetic testing. Red flags to consider are anyone in the family who developed cancer at a young age, multiple family members who developed cancer, if a person experienced bilateral cancer (cancer in both breasts), breast and ovarian cancer in the same woman, or cancer appeared where it wasn’t expected (like breast cancer in men)

New National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines suggest BRCA (BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that belong to a class of genes known as tumor suppressors) testing for any woman who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and for any woman who has been diagnosed with any type of breast cancer at age 45 or younger or with triple negative breast cancer at age 60 or younger.

All persons undergoing genetic testing need to be counseled said CTCA. Melanie Corbman says “I talk to the patients about their cancer history and the history of cancer in the family to decide whether it looks like the cancer in the family is something that is hereditary. I explain genetic testing and how it can be helpful for the patient and their family members”. Corbman says to “get the best answers from genetic testing if we do the testing in someone who already has been diagnosed with cancer.”

The CTCA explains that genetic testing involves a simple blood or saliva test that is then sent to a lab that does the genetic testing.

Breast cancer is common in the general population. The average woman’s risk for breast cancer is about 12% but a woman with a BRCA mutation can have up to an 85% risk of developing breast cancer. A woman who has already been diagnosed with breast cancer and who has BRCA mutation has a higher risk of getting a new breast cancer. The average woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer is low, about 1.5% but a woman with a BRCA mutation can have up to a 50% risk of getting ovarian cancer. Women with a cancer diagnosis may want to be more aggressive with their treatment if they know they have a BRCA mutation and have a higher chance of getting cancer again.

Men who test positive for the BRCA gene mutations have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer and about a 25%, increased risk for prostate cancers. These men should start screening for prostate cancer at age 40. Both men and women who have a history of pancreatic cancer in their families and have tested positive for a BRCA2 mutation may have an increased risk.

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2018, August 23). Genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer. News-Medical. Retrieved on November 21, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110926/Genetic-testing-for-breast-and-ovarian-cancer.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "Genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer". News-Medical. 21 November 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110926/Genetic-testing-for-breast-and-ovarian-cancer.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "Genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110926/Genetic-testing-for-breast-and-ovarian-cancer.aspx. (accessed November 21, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2018. Genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer. News-Medical, viewed 21 November 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20110926/Genetic-testing-for-breast-and-ovarian-cancer.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Neoantigen DNA vaccines improve survival and immunity in triple-negative breast cancer patients