Access to breast cancer test tightens Oct 24, 2008
The genes, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, are linked to up to 10 per cent of breast cancer cases. Jan Murphy, of Macarthur, decided to lower her risk of getting breast cancer after 11 women on her mother's side of the family died from the disease. (The Canberra Times)
Labs ordered to stop breast cancer tests Oct 23, 2008
The genes in question - BRCA1 and BRCA2 - are implicated in up to 10 per cent of breast cancers ... - Between 5 and 10 per cent of breast cancer is linked to BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Uncertain Gene Test Result Can Feed Cancer Worries Oct 17, 2008
Mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are responsible for about 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancers, and women with a strong family history of breast cancer can get BRCA testing to see whether they carry a mutation that raises their risk of the disease. However, the results of those tests are often not black-and-white. (MEDLINEplus)
'Pre-vivors' remove breast to avoid cancer Oct 16, 2008
With genetic testing more readily available, more women are learning if they have a defective BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene ... However, the risk of breast cancer in women who have mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can be reduced by a dramatic 90 percent through a bilateral mastectomy, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2004 found. (United Press International)
Extra incentive to get screenings Oct 15, 2008
These women can now get genetic counseling to help them determine if a test is necessary to look for the presence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, which can signal an increased risk for developing breast cancer. 421-6968. (Herald & Review)
Unraveling The Complexity Of Human Disease Oct 15, 2008
Professor Mike Stratton, head of the Cancer Genome Project at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, UK, led the team that mapped and identified the high-risk breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2. His group is searching for particular types of gene mutations in cancer cells, and is revealing new insights into a class of mutation called rearrangement, where one gene breaks and is fused to another. (Science Daily)
'Gossip Girl' Writer, Producer Removes Breasts to... Oct 14, 2008
In fact, parts of it actually served as the plot for an episode of ER." In 2005, Queller, a supervising producer and one of the head writers of the ultra-successful CW series Gossip Girl, opted to have a double mastectomy even though she didn t have breast cancer. And, in two years, she plans to have her ovaries removed even though she doesn t have ovarian cancer. Queller, now 38, made these radical decisions after watching her mother battle breast cancer and die from ovarian cancer. Then,... (Fox News)
THINK PINK: Men at risk for breast cancer, too Oct 14, 2008
Nevertheless, he got a blood test recently to see if he tests positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, genetic alterations that increase the risk of developing breast cancer. The information isn't for him, he said. (Florida Times-Union)
Breast cancer gene tests not worth the price? Oct 10, 2008
" They also claim that the average woman can reduce her risk of developing cancer through genetic testing.Myriad Genetics, the Salt Lake City biotechnology company behind the heavy ad push, charges about $3,000 for a complete risk-disposition test. Myriad, which holds a patent on the first breast cancer test, has been taking full advantage of the genetic testing monopoly it enjoyed until Wednesday when Decode entered the market with its new, more generalized test. To date, Myriad has been very... (MSNBC -- Politics)
deCODE Launches deCODE BreastCancer(TM), a Genetic Test to Screen for Risk of the Most Common Forms of Breast Cancer Oct 8, 2008
These are distinct from the rare and essentially purely inherited forms of the disease due to mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which cause between 1 and 3 percent of breast cancers ... "We are very interested in all advances that could empower people to take charge of their health care and better understand their risk for developing breast cancer." Owen Winsett, M.D., founder and director of the Breast Center of Austin, Texas, commented: "I have followed closely the recent scientific... (PR Newswire)
Breast Cancer Mutations Underestimated in Asians Oct 3, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, may occur more commonly in Asian women than previously thought, new research suggests ... According to the report, two prediction models, which rely on a woman's personal and family history of breast and ovarian cancer, often fall short in identifying Asian women likely to have BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations ... Only BRCAPRO discriminates between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, and genetic... (MEDLINEplus)
Study looks at psychological impact of gene test for breast cancer Oct 3, 2008
"Over 200,000 women will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year with breast cancer and a significant minority of them will have developed cancer because they harbor a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation," comments Dr. James P. Evans, Editor-in-Chief of Genetics in Medicine. "Sequencing of these genes has been a boon to patient management and to their family members but such testing comes with a psychological price. In the current issue of GIM, van Dijk et al. explore the psychological effect of discovering such... (EurekAlert!)
Patent system 'stifling science' Sep 25, 2008
" Fortress IP The traditional view is that strong patent protection stimulates innovation, reassuring companies that it is safe to invest in research without fear of being stung by rivals. Under this "old" model of intellectual property (IP), biotech firms raced to file a "fortress" of patents around newly discovered genes, closing off avenues of research for their competitors. But this strategy is ultimately counter-productive for both industry and consumers, argues the report, not least... (BBC News -- Health)
New Computer-Based Tools Will Help Make Best Use of Genetic Breast Cancer Tests Sep 23, 2008
The first pair of tools will assess whether a woman with a family history of cancer should be tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations ... For instance, the AHRQ-sponsored U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that women whose family history is associated with an increased risk for BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations are referred for genetic counseling and evaluation to measure the need for BRCA testing. (PR Newswire)
Treatment With New Drug Might Make Tumor Cells More Sensitive To Therapy Sep 19, 2008
(July 6, 1998) Tumors caused by a specific mutation in the cancer gene BRCA2 appear to be especially vulnerable to radiation and certain chemotherapy drugs, researchers at the Vanderbilt Cancer Center have found. (May 19, 2008) Researchers have found a possible approach to therapy that may make cancer cells more sensitive to attack by immune system cells while making the immune system cells more. (Science Daily)
10 test for cancer genes Sep 18, 2008
While Lila was battling cancer, Jan had genetic testing to see if she was carrying cancer-causing mutations in two specific genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2 ... It took 18 months for the results of the BRCA1 to come through and seven years for her to receive the outcome of the BRCA2 test by which stage she had gone ahead with her decision to have a double mastectomy ... While it turned out that I was negative for both BRCA1 and BRCA2, meaning something else had caused the cancer, the outcome would... (Belfast Telegraph)
10 test that can pinpoint your breast cancer risk in just one week Sep 17, 2008
Women who carry a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have up to an 80 per cent chance of developing cancer. By determining individual risk, doctors can single out women for extra checks or consider preventive measures. (Daily Mail)
Breast, Ovarian Cancer Risk Underestimated for Asian Women Sep 13, 2008
By providing a woman's family history of these cancers, including the ages they were diagnosed, the programs calculate a probability that the patient carries a harmful mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (genes involved in controlling malignant cell growth) ... This could indicate, Kurian says, that and BRCA2 mutations are not as informative for predicting future cancer in this population as it is in whites ... Further research will be necessary to determine how often BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations actually... (Scientific American)
Risk of breast cancer mutations underestimated for Asian women, Stanford study shows Sep 12, 2008
Mutations in two genes - BRCA1 and BRCA2 - are strongly associated with the development of breast or ovarian cancer in carriers ... Those women deemed by the models to be likely carriers of these mutations are referred for testing of their BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes ... They sequenced the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes of all of the study subjects and compared them to the models' predictions. (EurekAlert!)
‘She had cancer, and I didn’t’: Family history of disease leads to genetic testing Sep 3, 2008
They also had a 50 percent chance of inheriting one of the two mutated breast cancer genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 ... Women diagnosed with breast cancer who have an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene often have a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or both. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
SUSAN REIMER: Cancer forces tough decisions on women Aug 31, 2008
"There are ways to monitor for ovarian cancer -- ultrasound and testing for a marker in the blood -- but they are not as effective as the advances in mammography: digital pictures, ultrasounds and MRIs.Ovarian cancer is a silent stalker."She needs to deal with what she is dealing with right now, which is the breast cancer," Helzlsouer said.Research first identified the mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in 1994. Since then, Helzlsouer has been a pioneer in the sensitive counseling that this... (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
HEALTH BLOG: Digging into the latest cancer studies Aug 28, 2008
Ashkenazi Jews are 10 times more likely than the general population to carry mutations in the breast cancer genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2, and 90% of carriers have one of the three so-called Ashkenazi mutations ... Here's a National Cancer Institute about testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. (USA Today -- Money)
Cancer Test for Women Raises Hope, and Concern Aug 26, 2008
These include carriers of mutations in genes called BRCA1 or BRCA2, as well as women with histories of ovarian or breast cancer ... One of her patients, a Manhattan woman with a BRCA2 mutation, said she was planning to take the test in hopes of postponing ovary removal. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Behind the screen Aug 23, 2008
Welcome to The Sydney Morning Herald. Peter and Renae Warne with PJ, 2, who has a neuroblastoma, but evidence shows such tumours in toddlers tend to disappear without treatment. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Breast Cancer: Risks and Screening Aug 7, 2008
Mutations in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, increase a woman s susceptibility to breast cancer. Specialized tests are available to detect these abnormal genes. (Suite101.com)
Know Your Genes? Jul 28, 2008
In the 1980s, scientists discovered that mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes were linked to breast cancer risk. Women who carry a BCRA1 mutation have a 65 percent chance of developing breast cancer by age 70, and women with a BCRA2 mutation have a 39 percent risk. (KFOXTV.com, TX)
Women face tough decisions about breast cancer treatments Jul 25, 2008
Women newly diagnosed with breast cancer could be faced with the extra dilemma of having to decide whether to be tested for dangerous gene mutations, as evidence emerges that those with high-risk changes to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes may fare better with particular forms of chemotherapy. For women with several close relatives who had already had breast cancer, immediate testing might be warranted, Associate Professor Liz Lobb will tell the Sydney Cancer Conference today, because it could alter... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Family Poor Predictor of Breast Cancer Jul 25, 2008
A family history of breast cancer is not the same as breast cancer risk associated with the inherited mutations of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. In an effort to better understand the predictive value of family breast cancer history, de Bock analyzed its impact in close to 2,000 women with and without breast cancer. (WebMD)
'Smothered' Genes Combine With Mutations To Yield Poor Outcome In Cancer Patients Jul 16, 2008
21, 2006) BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations may be more common in the general population than previously reported and may be associated with ovarian, breast, testicular and pancreatic cancers, according to a study in. (June 26, 2003) Researchers have peered inside breast cancer's toolbox and identified a set of rogue genes that accelerates the spread of cancer from its primary site in the breast to a secondary location in. (Science Daily)
Breast cancer tests 'will become costly' Jul 15, 2008
Melbourne-based company Genetic Technologies has said it will enforce patents that allow it to carry out all testing for the most common breast and ovarian cancer genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, in Australia and New Zealand ... The test, available in Australia since the late 1990s, has allowed thousands of at-risk women to check if they have a mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which would increase their risk of breast or ovarian cancer three to sevenfold. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Medical research is hindered by out-of-date laws Jul 5, 2008
Work on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that can cause breast cancer, for example, has been held up in the United States by patents held by Myriad Genetics, a US company, and the University of Utah, though similar patents have been revoked in Europe. Patents have also delayed research into malaria and golden rice , a genetically modified variety that contains the precursor of vitamin A, Sir John said. (Times Online)
Swab for life Jun 29, 2008
The test, being developed by international scientists, identifies up to nine genes known to be linked to breast cancer, including BRCA1 and BRCA2. Researchers said women found to be "high risk" could be regularly screened while those at "low risk" could delay mammograms until older. (Herald Sun)
Experimental Imaging System Helps Detect Breast Cancer Jun 28, 2008
Last year, the American Cancer Society issued recommendations that women at high risk for breast cancer (such as those with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation or a strong family history of the disease) have annual MRIs in addition to mammography. MRIs have "high sensitivity," meaning they pick up a lot of unusual spots in the breast, but those spots aren't always malignant. (MEDLINEplus)
A supercomputer takes on a killer Jun 28, 2008
For example, women can now be tested for mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that signal a higher chance of getting breast or ovarian cancer - and some with the mutation opt for preventive mastectomies or hysterectomies. But many women with the mutation do not develop cancer, and many women without the mutation do. (Globe and Mail)
Cancer gene test 'for all women' Jun 27, 2008
The best known of these are faults in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, but there are several others. Researchers say that it is becoming feasible to work out whether a woman is at "low", "moderate" or "high" risk of cancer by looking at which combinations of these she has. (BBC News -- Health)
Caution on breast cancer predictor Jun 27, 2008
It would also test for the two high-risk genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, discovered a decade ago. The researchers said women deemed high-risk could be advised to have regular mammograms or choose to have their breasts removed. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Women in their 30's will be offered gene test to check risk of ... Jun 26, 2008
The primary genes involved include BRCA1 and BRCA2, but they occur only rarely in the general population and account for around 5 per cent of almost 46,000 breast cancer cases a year in the UK.. The latest research, funded by Cancer Research UK, analysed the effect of seven common 'modest risk' gene variants which increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer. (Daily Mail)
Gene test gives early alert for breast cancer Jun 26, 2008
In a paper published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, Pharoah and colleagues say that there are seven genetic variants - apart from the well-known, if rare, high-risk genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 - which have been discovered to increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, particularly if she has certain combinations of them. More are still being discovered. (guardian.co.uk)
Gene fuels deadly prostate cancer Jun 25, 2008
A University of Toronto team found prostate cancer patients carrying the BRCA2 gene lived on average for four years after diagnosis ... The latest study - based on 301 patients - examined two closely related faulty genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, both of which greatly increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, and are linked to ovarian cancer ... BRCA2 has already been linked to deadly prostate cancer, with an Icelandic study recording an average survival time among prostate cancer patients carrying the... (BBC News -- Health)
Mammogram Screening Day In Langford Jun 19, 2008
Genetic alterations (changes)-Specific alterations in certain genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, and others) increase the risk of breast cancer. These alterations are rare; they are estimated to account for no more than 10 percent of all breast cancers. (Marshall County Journal, SD)
Cancer-blocking chemo not being offered Jun 3, 2008
Studies in 25,000 women have shown clear benefit for those with family risk, but it is less clear if it is effective for women carrying the specific high risk genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, because of the nature of the tumour types. The study questioned 23 specialists on their attitude towards the therapy and found nine "barriers" to offering the therapy. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Breast Cancer Rates Projected To Soar May 30, 2008
Professor Gareth Evans led the study of 1,442 women who carried the high-risk genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, on behalf of the Manchester-based Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre. Around one in 500 people are said to carry the gene mutations which give women an 85-90% risk of breast cancer. (Sky News)
New Immunization Strategy Could Be Effective Against 10 To 15 Percent Of All Cancers May 28, 2008
6, 1998) Tumors caused by a specific mutation in the cancer gene BRCA2 appear to be especially vulnerable to radiation and certain chemotherapy drugs, researchers at the Vanderbilt Cancer Center have found. (Apr. (Science Daily)
Personal Health: Red flags for hereditary cancers May 28, 2008
You might be familiar with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations that are strongly linked to breast and ovarian cancer in women and somewhat less strongly to breast and prostate cancer in men. A woman with a BRCA mutation faces a 56 to 87 percent chance of contracting breast cancer and a 10 to 40 percent chance of ovarian cancer. (International Herald Tribune)
Cancer test a genetic crystal ball for Jewish women May 25, 2008
They plan to do that by offering adult Jewish women in Ontario, with no known family history of breast or ovarian cancer, the blood test to screen for three specific mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, beginning this Thursday ... One in 44 Ashkenazi Jewish people carry the mutation, he noted; in the general population, an estimated one in 400 individuals carries a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 ... Based on the one-in-44 risk factor, 7,440 Ashkenazi Jewish Canadians are unwitting carriers of... (Globe and Mail -- Business)
Prostate risk has family link to breast and ovarian cancer May 20, 2008
They are encouraging men from families with a history of breast or ovarian cancer to consider being tested for the gene, known as BRCA2 ... The national manager of kConFAb, Heather Thorne, said having a faulty BRCA2 gene not only increased the cancer risk ... "The BRCA2-prostate cancers that arise in these men also tend to be more aggressive," she said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Some doctors still cautious of gene tests May 6, 2008
At the same time, states have adopted a patchwork of protections, and steadily growing use of two of the best-proven tests for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations linked to breast and ovarian cancer suggests that lingering concern hasnt been a huge deterrent for people with strong family histories of disease. But until now, most genetic testing has been for conditions linked to single genes gone wrong, typically rare ones. (MSNBC -- Health)
Simultaneous Breast-Ovary Surgery Feasible May 2, 2008
Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are known to be at greatly increased risk of both breast and ovarian cancer, Dr. Funda Meric-Bernstam and colleagues point out. By 70 years of age, up to 85 percent of carriers will develop invasive breast cancer and up to 65 percent will develop invasive ovarian cancer, the team from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston notes. (MEDLINEplus)
New Technologies Offer More Accurate Means Of Diagnosis And Monitoring Cancer Apr 21, 2008
23, 2006) Women with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes can significantly reduce their risk of certain types of cancer by having their ovaries removed, according to a study in the July 12 issue of. (Apr. (Science Daily)
States Crack Down On Online Gene Tests Apr 19, 2008
For example, 23andMe tests for some gene variants involved in mildly raising breast cancer risk, but not genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2 that vastly raise breast cancer risk. Harvard Medical School's Mark Daley says if you found out that you had genes that slightly reduced the risk of cancer, but didn't check for the real cancer-causing gene like BRCA1, "you get a potentially dangerously misleading answer.". (Forbes -- Business)
Breast cancer risk amplified by additional genes in combo with BRCA mutation Apr 17, 2008
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine join an international consortium of research groups that looked at more than 10,000 women carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation for breast-cancer risk. These results suggest that knowledge of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation is necessary, but not sufficient, to fully understand cancer risk in women who carry these mutations, says co-author and head of the North American coalition Timothy R. Rebbeck, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology at Penn... (EurekAlert!)
Standard chemo works better against metastatic BRCA1/2 breast cancer than against sporadic tumors Apr 17, 2008
Berlin, Germany: The first study to investigate the effects of chemotherapy on metastatic breast cancer in women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation has shown that standard chemotherapy works better in these patients than in women without the BRCA1/2 mutation. The authors of a study presented today (Thursday) at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-6) in Berlin found that women with BRCA2-associated breast cancer had a significantly higher response rate, a longer time without the... (EurekAlert!)
Hereditary Breast Cancer: Some Women Choose Mastectomy Over Lifetime Surveillance Apr 16, 2008
Women with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have an estimated lifetime risk of developing breast cancer of about 85. Currently strategies to deal with this risk are surveillance with monthly breast self-examination, bi-annual clinical breast examination by a physician and annual mammography plus breast MRI, or prophylactic mastectomy, where the entire breast is removed. (Science Daily)
Coordinated prophylactic surgical management for women with hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome Apr 15, 2008
Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have a substantially increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer compared with the general population. Therefore, prophylactic mastectomy (PM) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) have been proposed as risk-reduction strategies for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. (BioMed Central)
Five Years Later, Patient On Vaccine Trial Still Free Of Ovarian Cancer Apr 8, 2008
2, 2008) Israeli investigators have found that Ashkenazi Jewish women with ovarian cancer who have mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes lived significantly longer than Ashkenazi Jewish ovarian cancer. . (Science Daily)
'Pretty' author defies breast cancer destiny Apr 1, 2008
Mutations in another gene, BRCA2, also raise the risks of both cancers. Ten thousand to 15,000 people have tested positive for the mutations, says Kauff, who estimates that several thousand have had surgery to reduce their risk. (USA Today)
MRI's High False Positive Rate Has Little Impact On Women's Choice Of Preventive Mastectomy Mar 28, 2008
The researchers from the Hereditary Cancer Clinic at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, followed 196 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, aged between 21 and 68 for an average of two years (a range of between one and nine years). Once the women had discovered that they carried a BRCA mutation (which gives a lifetime risk of breast cancer of up to 85 per cent and for ovarian cancer of up to 60 per cent) they made six-monthly visits to hospital to be examined... (Science Daily)
Breast MRI scans 'commonly wrong' Mar 26, 2008
Researchers at the Hereditary Cancer Clinic at Nijmegen Medical Centre followed 196 women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation which has been linked to breast cancer. On their first visit, they were asked whether they had a preference for ongoing surveillance in the form of scans, or whether they would rather have their breasts removed as a precaution. (BBC News -- Health)
Read this before buying a home testing kit Mar 25, 2008
FACT: A BRCA gene test does not test for cancer itself only for mutations, or changes, in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that may increase the chance of developing certain cancers over a lifetime ... FACT: About half of women who inherit a mutation, or abnormality, in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes receive it from their father ... FACT: Men who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation are at an increased risk to develop cancer, namely breast and prostate, so knowing their genetic status will help them better manage... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Breast cancer gene carriers' risk 'amplified' by additional genes Mar 25, 2008
Cancer Research UK scientists have found that common versions of two genes - FGFR2 and TNRC9 - known to increase risk in the general population - also increase the risk in women carrying damaged versions of the BRCA2 gene ... On average, half of women carrying a faulty BRCA2 gene will develop the disease by the age of 70 ... This study found that particular combinations of the FGFR2 and TNRC9 genes modify breast cancer risk in BRCA2 mutation carriers. (News-Medical.net)
Family Discussion Plays Role in Breast Cancer Awareness Mar 23, 2008
Genetic testing looks for BRCA1 and BRCA2, two genes in which mutations greatly increase the risk of breast cancer ... In the interviews, the researchers gathered information about the participants' cancer history, perceived risk, worry, medical mistrust, cancer fatalism, family/physician communication, race-based experiences, and knowledge and attitudes towards BRCA 1 and BRCA2 genetic testing. (Health-Finder)
Family discussions about cancer impact upon genetic test decisions Mar 22, 2008
Participants were asked about their cancer history, whether they felt they were at risk, the extent to which they had discussed the disease with their doctors and families, and how much they knew about counselling and testing for the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are responsible for around one quarter of hereditary breast cancer cases. Dr Kristi Graves, a clinical psychologist in the Cancer Control programme at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Centre, revealed that there was no difference in... (Cancer Research UK - News & Resources)
Jan Aitken reveals why she chose to have double mastectomy Mar 2, 2008
Lila and I were shocked to be told we would have to wait until we were 32 before we qualified for BRCA2 tests - and in Northern Ireland, where we lived, it could take seven years to get the results, compared to 12 weeks in England ... The BRCA1 result came back in 2001 and the BRCA2 result came back in 2006 - four years after Lila's death. (Mirror.co.uk)
Breast Cancer Gene Carriers Need Dual Screening Feb 28, 2008
She added that her team is "currently working to extend our model of breast cancer natural history and screening in BRCA1 gene mutation carriers to women who carry BRCA2 mutations, and women whose lifetime risk of breast cancer exceeds 20 percent -- these women are defined by the American Cancer Society as being at 'high-risk' of developing breast cancer.". SOURCE: Radiology, March 2008. (MEDLINEplus)
North-East pioneers new drug for cancer Feb 28, 2008
Dr Ruth Plummer, a senior lecturer in medical oncology and the chief investigator on the trial, said: "People who inherit faults in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have a 50 to 80 per cent chance of developing cancer."Currently, women with hereditary forms of breast and ovarian cancer are treated in the same way as every other woman who develops the disease ... Mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are responsible for about five per cent of the 44,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed annually in the... (The Northern Echo)
