Does cancer genome testing help prevent cancer?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 44-year-old woman with a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer. My aunt passed away at 50, and my mom is a survivor. I have been told about genetic or cancer genome testing, but I do not know where to start. Does it help prevent cancer? And what happens if I test positive for something like BRCA?

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com,

I read your case and can understand your concern.

As you mentioned, your family has a history of breast and ovarian cancer. Yes, there is genetic testing that helps you reduce the risk of those cancers.

Breast cancer genes (BRCA 1 and BRCA 2) identify inherited mutations that increase the risk of having breast and ovarian cancer.

BRCA 1 is associated with a 50 to 85 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and up to a 40 percent risk of ovarian cancer. The breast cancer in BRCA1 is triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
BRCA 2 is associated with up to a 50 to 60 percent life risk of developing breast cancer and 20 percent of ovarian cancer. It is also associated with cancers of the prostate, colon, gall bladder, bile duct, stomach, and pancreas.

So I will advise you to do these genetic tests and screening mammograms of the bilateral breasts.

The guidelines are that women aged greater than 35 or 40 should do screening mammograms of their bilateral breasts yearly for up to 75 years.

In case BRCA genes become positive, god forbid, then the recommendation is to offer bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction. This reduces the risk of breast cancer by 90 percent. Chemoprophylaxis with Tamoxifen or Anastrozole (hormonal) may reduce risk by 50 percent. Premenopausal women may be offered bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy after they have completed their family, around 30 to 40 years of age.

I hope this answers your query.

Please let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.