Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer

BRCA1 and BRCA2

More women are diagnosed with breast cancer than any other cancer. One out of every nine women will be diagnosed with this disease by the age of 80.

Inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for approximately 7-10% of all breast and ovarian cancers. Women with BRCA mutations have a lifetime risk of breast cancer between 56-87%, and a lifetime risk of ovarian cancer between 28-44%. Patients with a strong family history of breast cancer who have a negative test (no mutations) are at no greater (or less) risk than the general population (this risk is 13%).

The test is recommended for women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, patients who have already had breast or ovarian cancer (to assess the risk of a second cancer), patients with a blood relative known to have a BRCA gene abnormality. You are considered to have a family history if two or more of the following relatives have had breast cancer: yourself, your mother, sister(s), daughter(s), grandmother, aunt, or first cousin, and in particular any male relatives (especially if less than 50 years of age).

Some idea of how high a person's risk actually is can be obtained from the Myriad web site www.myriad.com. If the test is required, it is recommended that patients meet with a genetic counselor to learn in advance of the potential benefits and limitations of the testing.

LifeLabs has developed an exclusive relationship with Myriad Genetics to provide this testing to Canadian women.