October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we at Any Lab Test Now urge you to celebrate by taking control of your health and bringing awareness to yourself, first and foremost. Around one in eight women and one in 1,000 men in the U.S. will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, and this risk increases significantly if you have a family history of the disease. In fact, if you have the hereditary gene mutations BRCA1 or BRCA2, your risk of developing breast cancer increases to 65 percent. If you have a family history of breast cancer, it may be time to get tested for these inherited genes.
What are BRCA1 and BRCA2?
BRCA1 and BRCA2 (also known as Breast Cancer genes 1 and 2) are gene mutations passed down from either parent. They are the best-known genes linked to breast cancer risk and can significantly increase the risk of cancers in both men and women — up to 65 percent in some cases. The gene is rare in the general population, but the risk of having the gene varies by ethnicity. Carriers of the BRCA1 gene mutation have a 55 to 65 percent chance of developing breast cancer by age 70, while carriers of the BRCA2 gene have a 45 percent chance. (Remember, women in the general population have only an eight percent chance of developing breast cancer by age 70).
Do you need to get tested?
If you have a family history of breast cancer, you may unknowingly be a carrier of BRCA1 or BRCA2. Getting tested is the only way to know for sure that you have the gene. Genetic testing is recommended if you have:
- A known BRCA1 or 2 gene mutation in the family.
- A personal history of breast cancer at age 50 or younger.
- A personal history of breast cancer at age 50 or younger and a family member (parent, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or first cousin) diagnosed with breast cancer at any age.
- A personal history of triple negative breast cancer (breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative and HER2 receptor-negative) diagnosed at age 60 or younger.
- A personal or family history of ovarian cancer.
- A personal or family history of male breast cancer.
- Ashkenazi Jewish heritage and a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
- A family member (parent, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or first cousin) diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 or younger.
- A family member (parent, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or first cousin) diagnosed with ovarian cancer at any age.
While most people who get breast cancer do not have BRCA1 or 2 gene mutations, it is important to know your risks. If you have any of the risk factors listed above, talk to your doctor about getting tested. Any Lab Test Now offers testing for both the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Test results will be given by and discussed with a genetic counselor when the results are completed. Talk to our experts at Any Lab Test now about how you can get tested today. When it comes to beating breast cancer, early detection is the best way to fight this disease.
