How Is Breast Cancer Inherited? ~ Breast Cancer

While breast cancer has many risk factors, such as age and lifestyle factors such as smoking, there also is a genetic component to breast cancer. Scientists have pinpointed genes, such as mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which have been shown to contribute to the development of breast cancer. The BRCA genes are known as supressor genes, meaning that, when intact, they suppress cell growth that can lead to breast cancer.

While in most people the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes work to prevent cell growth, genetic mutations can keep the gene from doing its job of suppressing cell growth. Heredity is one way in which a person can have an "injured" BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene from birth, whereas other breast cancers may be due to genes that are damaged due to other causes.

Every person, male and female, carries the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. However, in those with a family history of breast cancer, the risk is increased that the parents will pass the gene along to their offspring. If only one parent has the injured gene, there is a 50 percent chance the offspring will have an injured gene, according to BreastDoc.com. If both parents carry the mutation, there is a 100 percent chance the offspring, male or female, will have the mutation.

Women or men who have the gene mutation do not always get breast cancer. However, they are considered to be at an especially heightened risk compared with those who do not. Another consideration is that the person who carries this gene also runs the risk of passing it down to her offspring. While estimates vary, anywhere from 5 to 27 percent of breast cancers occur as a result of hereditary traits, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Certain cultures are shown to have a higher likelihood for carrying the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations. These include Ashkenazi Jews, as well as people from Norway and Iceland, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.

A hereditary test for breast cancer exists. However (as previously mentioned) this test does not always mean a person will or will not get breast cancer. However, it may help in decision making, particularly in the instance of family planning.

The Genetics of Breast Cancer Cancer.Net
www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer/genetics/genetics-breast-cancer
Oncologist-approved cancer information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology
BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing - National Cancer ...
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA
Key Points. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that belong to a class of genes known as tumor suppressors. Mutation of these genes has been linked to hereditary breast ...
Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer
Breast cancer is a type of cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk.
Inherited Breast Cancer - NetWellness Homepage
www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/breastcancer/inheritedbreast...
Breast Cancer Inherited Breast Cancer. About 80% of women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors for breast cancer other than age.
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www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast
Information about breast cancer treatment, prevention, genetics, causes, screening, clinical trials, research and statistics from the National Cancer Institute.
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cancer.Net
www.cancer.net/cancer-types/hereditary-breast-and-ovarian-cancer
Oncologist-approved cancer information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Breastcancer.org - Breast Cancer Information and Awareness
www.breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer.
Genetic Test For Breast Cancer: How Much Does It Cost? -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bw0Q9SfgRw
As Kimberly Banks explains, the genetic test typically costs around $3,500 but if the test is recommended by a specialist it is usually covered by ...
Myriad Genetics Hereditary Breast Cancer BRCA1 and
www.myriad.com/treating-diseases/hereditary-breast-cancer
Hereditary Breast Cancer. Approximately 7% of breast cancer and 11 - 15% of ovarian cancer cases are caused by mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
How is breastfeeding related to breast cancer? : Cancer
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Breast feeding can protect you against developing breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survival
breastcancer.about.com
Welcome to breast cancer information! Here is information for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, family members or supportive friends. Learn how to lower your ...
National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/NHBCH
National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, Bakewell, United Kingdom. 3,524 likes 160 talking about this.
Is breast cancer hereditary - The Q&A wiki
wiki.answers.com Cancer Breast Cancer
Hereditary Breast Cancer According to the National Institutes of Health, breast cancer can be a hereditary condition. However, hereditary breast cancer only accounts ...
Breast Cancer: MedlinePlus - National Library of Medicine ...
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastcancer.html
Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lives. Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. No one knows why ...
Hereditary breastovarian cancer syndrome - Wikipedia, the free ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditary_breast-ovarian_cancer_syndrome
Hereditary breastovarian cancer syndromes (HBOC) are cancer syndromes that produce higher than normal levels of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in genetically ...
Breast Cancer and Genetic Testing - WebMD - Better information ...
www.webmd.com Breast Cancer Guide
WebMD helps you understanding what is involved in undergoing genetic testing to determine if you may be at risk for breast cancer.
Cancer genetics - how cancer sometimes runs in families - Cancer ...
www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Causesriskfactors/Genetics...
Information about the genetic causes of cancer for anybody who is worried that cancer might run in their family
Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer - Mayo Clinic - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpwx9RBOgSk
It could be your mom, sister, aunt or best friend. One out of 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. A small subset of the women who get diagnosed ...
How one company controls your breast cancer choices - Salon.com
www.salon.com/2013/05/14/how...may_control_your_breast_cancer_choices
May 14, 2013 Myriad Genetics owns the genes that indicate breast-cancer risk and the pricey test could be costing lives
Frequently Asked Questions Genetic testing for breast cancer
www.cancer.med.umich.edu/breastgenetics/faq.html
Frequently asked questions about genetic testing in general and how it specifically relates to breast and ovarian cancer risk.
Angelina Jolie, inherited breast cancer and the BRCA1 gene ...
scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/...inherited-breast-cancer-and-the...
The news today is full of reaction to US actress Angelina Jolies decision to have surgery to reduce her chances of breast cancer. She made this difficult decision ...
Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer - Learn.Genetics
learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/whataregd/brca/index.html
What is breast cancer and ovarian cancer? Cells normally grow and divide only when they are needed to keep our bodies functioning properly. But sometimes, the ...
Subject: Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast or Ovarian Cancer
mcgs.bcbsfl.com/?doc=Genetic%20Testing%20for%20Hereditary%20Breast...
DESCRIPTION: Several genetic syndromes with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance that feature breast cancer have been identified. Of these, hereditary breast ...