Dear editor,
Did you know there’s a strong genetic connection between breast cancer and ovarian cancer? A condition called Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome (HBOC), caused by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, significantly increases the risk of developing both cancers.
These genes are tumor suppressors, which means they help prevent the development of cancer. Mutations in these genes disrupt this process, increasing the cancer risk within families.
A family history of breast or ovarian cancer, especially if diagnosed before age 50, can indicate a potential HBOC mutation. While not everyone with harmful BRCA gene mutations will develop cancer, individuals with HBOC have a significantly higher lifetime risk of developing breast cancer (60%) and/or ovarian cancer (15%) than the general population.
Among women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer death, following lung cancer. To detect breast cancer, physicians use a combination of screening tests and diagnostic procedures. Mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs are used to image the breast, while biopsies provide tissue samples for analysis.
World Ovarian Cancer Day has become an international awareness day observed annually since 2013 on May 8. While this cancer accounts for a relatively small percentage of all new cancer cases, ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S., primarily due to symptoms being vague, nonspecific, and easily dismissed, leading to delayed diagnosis. With the CA-125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound as preliminary screening tools, only a tissue biopsy can provide a definitive diagnosis.
Genetic testing with counseling should become a fundamental recommendation, especially for younger women diagnosed with breast cancer or those with a family history of either cancer, to assess their risk and guide treatment options. Early detection of genetic mutations can be a crucial element in determining the most effective risk management strategies.
Peter Wibell, Rutledge