What Do You Know About The BRCA Gene #beBRCAware

Disclosure: I received $150 from AstraZeneca, and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience. This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/AstraZeneca.

The reason for my post today is to raise awareness of the BRCA gene and the role it plays in ovarian and/or breast cancer. I know you have heard of cancer, but do you know what role the BRCA gene plays in ovarian and breast cancer? I didn’t either until I learned about it after my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Now I’m going to share the information with you and together we can continue to inform others in hopes of saving lives.

In 2000 my grandmother died. She had cancer.

So you can imagine what was going through my mom’s mind when in 2001 a mammogram revealed that she had something suspect showing up in her test only to reveal it was breast cancer. My mom’s attitude was what I believe got her and everyone else through it. She fought with confidence and she didn’t have time for self pity. Her humor was at times odd. I seem to take things much more seriously and I was definitely more worried than she seemed to be.  However, I’m sure there were days when going through treatment were not easy for her. I’m sure there were days that she didn’t feel like laughing. In 2006 she was deemed 5 years cancer FREE! That day was a day of celebration for our entire family.

That’s when I learned there was a genetic test that can for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in people with a family history of cancer.  The test can reveal the possible presence of a harmful mutation in one of these genes that significantly increases the risk of  someone developing breast and/or ovarian cancer. A simple blood or saliva test can possibly save lives and it’s time we become aware that this option is out there!

What is a BRCA gene?
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes involved with cell growth, cell division, and cell repair. Although they are most commonly associated with BReast CAncer, approximately 15% of women with ovarian cancer also have BRCA gene mutations.¹,²

• Women with BRCA gene mutations have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.⁴
• In the general population, 1.4 percent⁴ of women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, while up to 40 percent of women with BRCA 1/2 mutations will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their lifetime.⁵
• An estimated 15% of ovarian cancers are linked to BRCA mutations.^1,2
• BRCA gene mutations can play a key role in serous ovarian cancer, the most common form of ovarian cancer.⁶
• Nearly one half of women with ovarian cancer who are BRCA-positive have no significant family history of breast or ovarian cancer.⁷

Who should get tested for the BRCA gene?
Clinical practice guidelines recommend that all women with epithelial ovarian cancer be considered for BRCA testing³. The test is simple and easy. A blood or saliva sample can be taken at your physician’s office or at a local lab. Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance carriers cover BRCA testing for women with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Certain mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 can affect how you and your physician choose to manage ovarian cancer.

Will you JOIN THE CONVERSATION?

Hashtag: #beBRCAware
Twitter: @beBRCAware
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/beBRCAware/250939935114040
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmqqk6o8esolywblpF4-IKQ

References:
1. Pal T, Permuth-Wey J, Betts JA, et al. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations account for a large proportion of ovarian carcinoma cases. Cancer. 2005;104(12):2807-2816.

2. National Cancer Institute. BRCA1 and BRCA2: Cancer risk and genetic testing. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA. Accessed June 2, 2014.

3. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian. Version 4;2013.2 

4. National Cancer Institute. BRCA1 and BRCA 2: Cancer risk and genetic testing. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA. Last Accessed: October 30, 2014.

5. Petrucelli N, et al.,1998 Sep 4 [Updated 2013 Sep 26]. In: Pagon RA, Adam MP, Bird TD, et al., editors. GeneReviews [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2014.

6. Wang ZC, et al. Profiles of genomic instability in high-grade serous ovarian cancer predict treatment outcome. Clin Cancer Res. 2012;18:5806-5815.

7. Song H., The contribution of deleterious germline mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2 and the mismatch repair genes to ovarian cancer in the population. Human Molecular Genetics 2014;23(17):4703-4709.