Saturday, January 4, 2014

BRCA 1/BRCA 2 screening

BRCA 1 & BRCA 2 genes are believed to be associated with hereditary development of Breast/ Ovarian cancers, but the important question is when to screen for those two genes and when not ?

Screening is essential in one of the following conditions:

1- a Positive family history of an early onset breast or ovarian cancers at an age less than 35 years old, in a first degree relative

2- a Positive family history of MALE breast cancer.

3- a strong family history suggestive of development of breast cancer in multiple generations in the family.

4- development of a Breast/Ovarian cancer in the patient herself.

Being an Ashkenazi Jewish is NO LONGER considered to be a risk factor that requires screening.

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