Introduction:
A New York Times op-ed article on May 14, 2013 revealed that Angelina Jolie underwent a double mastectomy (Jolie). She did not have cancer. What would prompt a healthy individual to perform such drastic and disfiguring surgery if her life were not in danger? It turns out that she carries a breast cancer gene mutation, BRCA1, which increases the chances of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The availability of genetic testing has caused prophylactic double mastectomy rates to increase dramatically. Celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Sharon Osborne and Christina Applegate have had double mastectomy due to their genetic predisposition for developing the disease.
What is the BRCA gene mutation, what are the risks, and who is
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Therefore, mutations lead to an increased risk of developing breast cancer among other malignancies in one’s lifetime (Hardy, Tarasewicz, & Jeruss, 2013, p. 49).
Women with a BRCA gene mutation have a considerable risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime compared to those who do not carry the gene mutation. In the general population, the prevalence of BRCA genes is 1 in 300-500 people. In some populations, the frequency of carriers is much higher. Most notably, Ashkenazi Jewish descendants have a frequency as high as 1 in 40 (Hardy, Tarasewicz, & Jeruss, 2013, pp. 49-50).
Women who are BRCA carriers have a 76–84% chance of developing breast cancer before the age of 70, compared to 13% of non BRCA gene mutation carriers. Additionally, carriers are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, and their cancer is of a higher histologic grade. They are also more likely to develop cancer in the contralateral breast (Hardy, Tarasewicz, & Jeruss, 2013, p. 50). This increased risk is great cause for concern, and currently genetic testing is available to those who might be gene mutation carriers.
Who should get tested?
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), primary care providers should screen women who have family members with breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer, to identify a family history that might be associated with an increased risk for BRCA gene
According to “The Clan of One-Breasted Women,” by Terry Tempest Williams, she discusses how cancer runs in her family. The type of cancer that runs in her family was breast cancer, however her mother, grandmothers, and six aunts all had mastectomies and that lead them to death. Just two of them survive, but they still need to go to chemotherapy and radiation to get check ups. Williams even had her own difficulty with breast cancer and a small tumor within her ribs. She talks about how you can get breast cancer and it’s for these reasons; the risk of percentages with more fatty diets, or getting pregnant after 30 years old.
Women who are at the greatest risk are over the age over the age of fifty years of age. Patients with a family history of cancer, especially in their first degree relatives, may have inherited mutations of BRCA1 and/or BRCA2. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genetic mutations that put patients are risk for cancer. Patients that have a history of breast cancer are five times more likely of developing cancer in the opposite breast. Patients with dense breast are at risk for developing breast cancer due to the fact dense breast contains more glandular and connective tissue. Patients who are exposed to high doses of ionizing radiation to the thorax, early menarche, tobacco use, nulliparity, late menopause, and first child birth after thirty years of age put the patient at risk for breast cancer (Ignatavicius, 2013, p.
This examination compiled the following information: Grandmother “C” has BRCA1 trait resulting in double mastectomy at age 35, prior to diagnosis Grandmother “C” only medical condition was hypertension,. Mother “M” information was obtained. Mother "M" provided the
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two genes that have been patented by Myriad Genetics. These genes are not rare, they are found in everyone. One of the outstanding characteristics of these genes is their ability to naturally fix DNA. Myriad Genetics isolated the gene from the DNA sequence. The company has created a test that can reveal a possible mutation in those genes, which correlates with a higher breast and
Breast cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the breast become abnormal and multiply uncontrollably to form a tumor. Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. (Only skin cancer is more common.) About one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Researchers estimate that more than 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women in 2015. Cancers occur when a buildup of mutations in critical genes—those that control cell growth and division or repair damaged DNA—allow cells to grow and divide uncontrollably to form a tumor. Breast cancer can be caused by inherited genetic factors. These genetic
Breast cancer is also another very prevalent disease that affects many women worldwide. However, with modern technology, it is easy to identify those women who are at high-risk for developing breast cancer through looking at mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. This can be very controversial, due to the fact that once women find that they’re positive for the gene mutations, they may choose to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy. In doing so, a woman can decrease her risk of developing breast cancer by 90%-95% (McQuirter, Castiglia, Loiselle, & Wong, 2010, p. 313). However, issues such as surgical complications and body image concerns prevent many women from choosing such an option. This study focused on exploring the process of making a decision
and it is the most common form of cancer identify a disease or its cause after skin cancer among women. Although both men and women can develop this type of cancer, it affects mostly women. Like any other type of cancer breast cancer happens when there are changes in the cells of the breast making them different from what's usually expected and changing quickly to form a lump in the body. Today, doctors have found that only five to ten percent of breast cancer cases are caused by something valuable you get when older relatives die. When breast cancer is caused by something valuable you get when older relatives die is due to a tiny chemical assembly instruction inside of living things change that is passed through generations in a family. There is some received changed in a bad way tiny chemical assembly instructions inside of living things that have been identified that make a person easily able to be harmed or influenced by a higher risk of breast cancer. Among all this different types of born-in tiny chemical assembly instructions inside of living things the most common one is BRCA1 and BRCA2. Both of these tiny chemical assembly instructions inside of living things not only raise the risk of breast cancer but ovarian cancer also. Among different racial groups, White woman are at higher risk for breast cancer. The number of times something happens for this group of 132.5, however although white
BRCA 1 can help predict cancer, as it is a mutation in the cell layers. It is a human tumor suppressor gene, which is found in every human. It acts as a protector against furthering steps of cancer, and if it mutates or changes, it will lead to cancer. People can have their BRCA genes tested, and see if they have the precursor to cancer. According to a study done by the National Cancer Institute, if you have an abnormal BRCA1 gene, there is a 60% chance of it evolving to cancer over that person’s lifetime. Restating the definition of Sociological Imagination, it means the ability to connect basic aspects to more impersonal historic forces. Using your sociological imagination, history has shown that most people who develop breast
List the factors in the patient’s history that increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
With three members of my family having breast cancer, it is believed that getting genes tested for mutations would be a intelligent decision. Due to breast cancer being a common disease in my family I decided to investigate scenario three into further detail. I feel it would be beneficial to get my genes tested to determine if I have a chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the future.
Such findings, all of which relate to hormone-based life events, suggest that breast cancer is somehow affected by prolonged exposure to female sex hormones, such as estrogen. Women with a history of breast cancer in the family are also at greater risk. About five percent of all breast cancers have been attributed to a mutated, or structurally altered, gene known as BRCA1. Mutations in a second gene, BRCA2, contribute significantly to the development of breast cancer in Jewish women. Alcohol, high levels of fat in the diet, and not exercising regularly have also been linked to increased risk for breast cancer (Garber).
For those who may inherit one copy of BRCA, they get a higher chance of getting cancer because they only need one more mutated BRCA to develop cancer.
Meanwhile, in addition to the male's occupation, radiation exposure and age can lead to breast cancer developments ( National Cancer Institute, 2007). When these risk factors are revealed in a diagnoses of breast cancer, men have more advanced cancerous growths than women (Giordano, 2004). So men may think, how do I get breast cancer? Is it inherited?
A family history of breast cancer may increase your risk of getting breast cancer. Although someone in your family has breast cancer does not mean you will have it too. About 75% of patients with breast cancer do not have a family history of breast cancer. Girls who have a menstruation before the age of 12 and women who has menopause after the age of 50 can increase your risk of cancer. Older women are at higher risk then younger women. Women over 40 who have there first pregnancy is at risk of getting the disease. White woman are more likely to get breast cancer than African-American women, but African-American women are more likely to die from cancer. Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian women have a lower risk of getting breast cancer then white or black women. According to a study, woman who takes birth control has a slightly greater risk of getting breast cancer. Most studies suggest that use of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) for relief of menopause symptoms for more than 5 years may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer (Breast Cancer Statistics, 2008).
Although breast cancer may occur at a higher rate in older women; everyone should know their family cancer history. For instance, genetics can play a role in developing this disease, as well as some inherited genes. Additionally, having a family history of breast cancer can double the risk of