Genetic

Of the 192,000 annual diagnoses of breast cancer genetics in women, about 5 to 10% of them have it in a hereditary form. Certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, make certain women more vulnerable to being diagnosed with it along with other cancer types—some as high as three to seven times more likely to develop the breast cancer than women without these altered genes.

Genetic testing for breast cancer have shown that different ethnic groups have specific gene alterations. Women of the Ashkenazi Jewish descent have 5 times higher frequency than other general population groups in regard to genetics breast cancer. Three alterations of the altered genes linked to breast cancer genetic diagnosis are two of the BRCA1 gene and one of the BRCA2 genes. This shows that genetics and breast cancer do actually have a link, proven by breast cancer genetic testing.

Alternative genetic breast cancer treatments have hit the main stream lately, with more and more women looking for non-traditional methods that are easier on the system and less stressful and expensive. Every day new methods are being tried out and researched, with latest findings on genetic link to breast cancer, genetics and familial breast cancer, and genetics of sporadic breast cancer results being improved.

Genetics and breast cancer have a lot to do with each other, so if someone in the family has either breast or ovarian cancer, there will probably be an increase in the risk in a relatively small number of individuals. Genetic testing, or an analysis of the DNA, will help determine whether it has a mutation that is found in breast or ovarian cancer patients. This type of test will not work for all cancer women, but only those that have a genetic change. But the majority of women, who actually do have a breast cancer diagnosis, have it due to a sporadic occurrence instead of hereditary factors.

On the other hand, if two or more of first-degree relatives—such as the parents, siblings, children, or any number of each one—have been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, a genetic counselor is suggested. They take a detailed family history along with a medical history; they assess the risk of the cancer development, the risk and benefit of genetic testing, with many options determined. Dealing with risks of breast cancer are increased with the mutated gene BRCA1 or BRCA2: breast cancer is increased 13% on the average with no mutated gene; with the BRCA1 it is 60 to 80% risk; with BRCA2 it is a 60 to 80% risk. The risks of ovarian risk are 1.5% with an average risk; 20 to 45% risk with the BRCA1 gene; and 15 to 27% risk with the BRCA2 gene.