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07.12.06: Hereditary or “Family” Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer is a very frequent disease. One woman out of ten has it during her life. That is why there are cases, when there are two women with this pathology in a family.
Such cases are usually referred to as Family or Hereditary Breast Cancer, and specialists believe it to be caused by a faulty gene.
Only 5%-10% have Breast Cancer caused by hereditary factors. For the majority of people age is the most important factor.
Recently three main genes, connected with Breast Cancer, were identified:
· BRCA1
· BRCA2
· TP53
However, the fact that a person has a faulty gene does not necessarily mean that Breast Cancer will develop. Some other genetic factors may be discovered later on.
Breast Cancer Inheritance.
In case your mother or father is a bearer of a faulty gene, in the process of genetic material inheritance healthy genes may be transferred.
It means that your chance to inherit faulty or healthy gene is 50:50.
If you inherit a faulty gene, your children run the risk of inheriting this gene as well – and the chance is 50:50. In case you do not inherit the faulty gene there is no risk for you children.
Other Types of Cancer
Transferring of faulty genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 increases the risk of Ovary Cancer. In case you have a faulty gene BRCA2, there is a risk of other types of cancer.
Men, who inherit the faulty genes BRCA1 or BRCA2, belong to the Prostate Cancer risk group.
Men, having the faulty gene BRCA2, belong to the Breast Cancer risk group.
Family Factors
One may be referred to the group of high risks if one has a close relative with the following diagnosis:
· Cancer of both breasts (Two-sided Breast Cancer)
· Ovary Cancer
· Cancer, which developed in the young age (before 40 years)
· Some cancerous diseases of children age
Other factors include:
· A man relative, having Breast Cancer
· Two or more relatives from one’s father’s side, having Cancer
· Ethnic background, where faulty gene is more frequent – for instance, people with Jewish genealogy of ashkenaz.
Health Care
Women, having cases of Breast Cancer in the family, are usually worried about their health.
However, many other women may also consider, that they are in the group of high risks. In such cases do not hesitate to consult a specialist.
Mammology Department of American Medical Center carries out gene expertise which helps to investigate hereditary factors, causing Breast Cancer.
D. Slosser, Surgeon–Mammologist, American medical center
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