Breast cancer affects hundreds of individuals every yr. It’s one of the common cancers faced by women: about 13% of girls will develop breast cancer sooner or later of their lives.
One of the common questions on breast cancer is, “Is breast cancer hereditary?” And the reply is yes, it could possibly be.
Understanding your risk of developing hereditary breast cancer may help you get the screenings and preventive care you need. On this post, we’ll discuss the different sorts of hereditary breast cancer, genetic testing for breast cancer risk through genetic counselors and community health research studies like myGenetics, and what to do in case your test reveals you could have a genetic mutation that increases your risk of developing a disease.
Hereditary breast cancer is inherited through DNA
Hereditary breast cancer is attributable to genetic mutations passed down out of your parents. Five to 10% of breast cancer cases are attributable to inherited gene mutations.
Genes are made up of DNA, and a few changes inside the DNA (also referred to as mutations) are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are essentially the most common genes linked to breast cancer, and we’ll talk more about them. But inherited mutations in other genes may impact your risk of developing breast cancer.
While having a history of breast cancer in your loved ones might mean you have a genetic mutation that increases your risk, the one way to know obviously is thru genetic testing for gene mutations related to breast cancer risk.
Be mindful that having a gene mutation that increases your risk of breast cancer doesn’t mean you’ll develop the disease. There are preventive measures that will be taken to reduce your risk, including earlier and increased imaging, preventive surgical options, and preventive medications.
What’s familial breast cancer and the way does it affect your risk?
Breast cancer sometimes occurs more often in families for reasons aside from an inherited single gene mutation. About 10-20% of breast cancers could also be attributable to a mix of genetic, environmental and lifestyle risk aspects that relations have in common. This is named familial breast cancer, and breast cancer risk amongst relations could also be tougher to predict.
Studies show that a family history of breast cancer increases your risk of developing the condition during your lifetime. If one among your first-degree female relatives – mother, sister or daughter – has breast cancer, your personal risk of breast cancer doubles. Your risk of developing breast cancer is significantly higher than average if two of your first-degree relatives are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Similar to with hereditary breast cancer, family history of the disease doesn’t mean you’ll be diagnosed with breast cancer for certain. But there are different steps you can take to reduce the danger of breast cancer, depending on your loved ones history. Talk along with your primary care doctor if you have concerns about your loved ones’s cancer history, and consider asking a few referral to a breast health expert for a more personalized risk assessment.
Genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer risk looks for mutations within the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are related to several various kinds of cancer, including breast cancer. When working properly, BRCA1 and BRCA2 act as tumor suppressors and help protect your body from cancer.
Nevertheless, it’s possible to inherit BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations that keep the genes from doing their jobs. These mutations are related to the next risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in women, prostate cancer in men, and pancreatic cancer and melanoma in each sexes.
The lifetime risk of cancer for a lady who carries a BRCA mutation is greater than 60% compared to the final population risk of 13%.
You possibly can inherit a BRCA mutation from either parent
About 1 in 500 women in america have either a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Most individuals inherit these gene mutations from one among their parents. Additionally it is possible for somebody to be the primary person of their family to carry a recent mutation, but that is rare.
It’s possible to inherit mutations on the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene from either parent. In case your mother or father has a mutation, you have a 50% probability of getting the identical mutation.
Who should get genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer risk?
There are some groups of people who find themselves more likely to carry BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Understanding your breast cancer risk may help you take proactive steps, like increased screening and preventive care.
Genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer risk could also be a superb fit for individuals who:
- Have several relations who’ve had breast cancer
- Have male relations with breast cancer
- Have a family history of ovarian cancer
- Have a relative with a known BRCA mutation (or other gene mutation)
- Have a relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer sooner than age 50
- Have a private history of breast cancer before age 50, male breast cancer or triple negative breast cancer (a variety of breast cancer with cells that don’t have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or the HER2 protein)
- Have a private history of ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer or primary peritoneal cancer
Your ethnicity also has an impact on the likelihood that you have a BRCA mutation. People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are much more likely to have a mutation within the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. One in 40 Ashkenazi Jewish women have a mutation, compared to the common risk of 1 in 500.
Because hereditary breast cancer is passed through relatives, you can also carry the abnormal gene if someone in your loved ones tests positive for a BRCA gene mutation. If you have a member of the family with a known mutation in a breast cancer risk gene, it’s beneficial that you meet with a genetic counselor to discuss what these results mean for you, in addition to to discuss your options for genetic testing.
Undergoing genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer is a private decision. If you’re unsure about breast cancer genetic testing, you should talk along with your doctor. They may help answer your questions, determine if testing is required, and guide you toward the trail that shall be best for you.
How genetic testing for hereditary cancer works
Genetic counseling and testing are beneficial for those whose family and private health histories point to an increased probability of a cancer gene mutation. In lots of cases, testing someone within the family with a cancer diagnosis will provide essentially the most information. Sometimes this isn’t possible since the member of the family has passed away or declined genetic testing. On this scenario, their close relatives may select to pursue testing.
Comprehensive genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer risk typically involves a multi-gene panel that may analyze several breast cancer susceptibility genes at the identical time. We know that inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations carry significantly higher lifetime risks for breast cancer and are liable for a big portion of hereditary breast cancer families.
There are two primary options for accessing genetic testing: meeting with a genetic counselor and genetic testing health research studies.
Genetic counseling
A genetic counselor is trained to discuss inherited genetic disorders. They will analyze your personal and family medical history, provide risk assessment and help you consider your testing options. They may talk with you about what a genetic test result means for you and your loved ones.
If needed, genetic counselors can guide you toward additional care which may help you manage your health risks. If you have a private or family history of cancer, talk along with your primary care doctor about whether a visit with a genetic counselor is correct for you.
Genetic health screening studies
DNA health studies and screening programs sometimes offer breast cancer genetic testing and other varieties of genetic health tests. In Minnesota, myGenetics is a primary of its kind large-scale community health research study. This voluntary study is offered to all HealthPartners and Park Nicollet patients over the age of 18 that shouldn’t have a history of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant from a donor.
Through myGenetics, you can get details about three hereditary conditions: Lynch syndrome, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, and a hereditary type of high cholesterol called familial hypercholesterolemia. You may as well get information on regional ancestry and traits like caffeine sensitivity. All this information from myGenetics is offered without charge to you.
Learn more about genetic testing with myGenetics DNA health screening.
What to do if you test positive for a genetic risk of hereditary breast cancer
Be mindful that an increased risk of breast cancer doesn’t mean that you will develop it, however it’s still vital to concentrate on your personal risk. Having a hereditary or familial risk of developing breast cancer affects the preventive care and screenings you need. Lifestyle changes, increased screening through imaging, preventive surgeries and certain medicines are all methods that will be used to reduce your risk of developing cancer.
High-risk evaluation and screening
If you have a genetic predisposition to developing breast cancer, your care team will work with you to create a daily screening plan. Depending in your personal risk, you might get screenings for breast cancer every six months. This increases the likelihood things shall be detected early.
People vulnerable to hereditary breast cancer or with a family history of the disease commonly start breast cancer screenings at an earlier age than is often beneficial. In some cases, your doctor may recommend starting breast cancer screenings 10 years before the earliest breast cancer diagnosis in your loved ones. For instance, in case your mother was diagnosed at age 40, you might start breast cancer screenings at 30.
Medications to reduce breast cancer risk
Certain medications will be an efficient way to reduce the danger of developing breast cancer in people at higher risk. Some varieties of medicine that could be used include:
- Tamoxifen and raloxifene – These are each FDA-approved medications for reducing the danger of breast cancer. Tamoxifen will be utilized by women at any stage of life, while raloxifene is just for post-menopausal women.
- Aromatase inhibitors – Research shows that aromatase inhibitors can decrease the danger of developing breast cancer and should be an efficient option for you.
Be sure to talk along with your doctor before starting any recent treatment. Like with many varieties of care, medication therapy comes with a risk of developing unintended effects. Your doctor will help you weigh the risks and advantages of those therapies considering your risk of genetic breast cancer.
Surgery
In some cases, individuals who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations may select to surgically remove their breast tissue – called a double mastectomy. By removing as much breast tissue as possible, the likelihood that cancer develops is significantly lower.
A double mastectomy is a private, life-altering alternative. You must let your doctor know if you’re considering the procedure. They’ll talk with you concerning the advantages and risks of surgery, what to expect during recovery and your options for reconstruction.
Discover if hereditary breast cancer is a risk factor for you
If you’re considering learning if you carry a gene mutation, genetic testing for breast cancer risk is perhaps right for you. Talk along with your primary care doctor about your options for genetic testing and whether a genetic counselor or a community health research study like myGenetics is correct for you.
If you have a private or family history of breast cancer, you can still take part in the myGenetics program, however it’s vital to know that the genetic screening offered through myGenetics includes only a subset of genes that may cause an increased risk for cancer. If you have a private or family history of cancer, you should review this information along with your care provider or a genetic counselor to determine if more comprehensive testing could be appropriate for you.