Authors : Yakup Kumtepe and Kadir Cetinkaya
Abstract: Cancer caused by a mutated gene is a hereditary cancer rather than a sporadic cancer. Women who have inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have substantially elevated risks of breast and ovarian cancer. Further genetic risk assessment is recommended for women who have >20-25% chance of having an inherited predisposition to breast or ovarian cancer. Women with harmful mutations in either BRCA1 or BRCA2 have risk of breast cancer that is about 5 times the normal risk and a risk of ovarian cancer that is about 10-30 times normal. Mutation carriers have various options including extensive and regular surveillance, chemoprevention and risk-reducing surgery.
Yakup Kumtepe and Kadir Cetinkaya, 2012. Management and Patient Selection for BRCA Genetic Testing to Identify Women at Increased Risk for Breast and Ovarian Cancers: A Review. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 6: 83-86.