AT RISK FOR BREAST CANCER ? WATCH OUT FOR OVARIAN CANCER TOO.
About 5 – 10 % of the women are genetically predisposed to breast cancer. Those women are concerned and motivated to get checked for breast cancer. It is equally important that at the same time they see a GYNAE ONCOLOGIST as they are at increased risk of getting an ovarian cancer too.
LINK BETWEEN BREAST CANCER & OVARIAN CANCER RISK
BRCA 1 & BRCA 2 genes predispose women who have inherited a mutation in those genes to breast & ovarian cancer. BRCA 1 & 2 are involved in DNA repair and cell growth, but when mutations in those genes occur, they don’t repair DNA so well, and cancer can result – breast and/or ovarian cancers.
Not only do these mutations put the women at risk, her offsprings have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the same mutation. Men can also have and pass along to their offspring BRCA 1 & 2 mutations, which puts the man at higher risk of breast, prostrate and pancreatic cancers.
CHECKING FOR BOTH CANCERS AT ONCE
Generally in these patients ,breast cancer gets the attention and monitoring for ovarian cancer risk gets overlooked. Woman should be aware that she needs to be monitored for both. Ovarian cancer symptoms are often minimal and unnoticeable until later stages, so most cancers go undiagnosed until advanced stages.
When woman gets her breast examination ,she should also be evaluated for ovarian cancer.
Your detailed family history , pelvic examination and if required some blood workup and imaging will be done. A definitive diagnosis of ovarian cancer is only possible after a pathological sample is submitted.
Not sure if you are at genetic risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer ?
Find out more by contacting us.
