Inherited Breast Cancer Risk
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 12-14 percent of breast cancers can be linked to genetic mutations inherited from a person’s maternal or paternal family line. Everyone has the breast cancer gene, commonly referred to as BRCA. When functioning properly, BRCA genes repair cell damage and keep breast, ovarian and other cells growing normally.
However, mutations of the BRCA genes can significantly increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are most common, although other germline mutations like TP53, PTEN, CDH1, PALB2, CHEK2, ATM, NBN and BARD1 are also associated with breast cancer.
On average, women who test positive for the BRCA1 mutation have a 55 to 65 percent chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. The BRCA2 mutation has a 45 percent lifetime risk.
Breast cancers linked to genetic mutations tend to develop in younger women, so it’s important for women to get tested earlier than in past years. Genetic testing is the only way to determine if you have inherited a mutation in your genes that causes breast cancer. Please note: genetic testing does not tell you if you have breast cancer; it just tells you if you are at increased risk for developing breast or other cancers.
Getting Tested For Gene Mutations
Because BRCA gene mutations can drastically increase the risk of breast cancer, many women are getting tested early — in their 20s and 30s — for peace of mind. This type of testing is recommended for women with a strong family history of breast cancer on either the maternal or paternal side. For more information
read this article about red flags that may indicate the need for genetic testing.
It’s also important to note that even if a woman has previously undergone genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRAC2 with negative results, she most likely got tested because of a very strong family history of breast cancer. When this is the case, experts like
Jeneice Miller, Certified Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Genetics Nurse-Board Certified at the INTEGRIS Breast Surgery Clinic, recommend getting updated genetic testing for the other germline mutations known to increase the risk of breast cancer.
The breast health services at INTEGRIS include a high risk and genetics clinic at the
INTEGRIS Breast Surgery Clinic that offers risk assessment and genetic testing for gene mutations that determine a person’s likelihood of developing breast cancer based on his or her unique risk factors.
The cost of genetic testing varies widely depending on the facility and type of test. However, if you meet certain requirements that indicate hereditary cancer may run in your family, your health insurance company may cover the cost of genetic testing. To find out if you are at risk for inheriting breast cancer,
take this quiz.