There have been a lot of people in my life who have battled cancer. From my awesome cousin who fought Leukemia when we were children to my sweet, hilarious uncle who fought cancer for years until he passed away earlier this year.
I’ve seen too many lives affected, changed and shortened by cancer. So when there is the chance to know of an increased chance of cancer, or to know the best way to treat it, I’m all for it.
THe 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.
Who should get tested?
Clinical practice guidelines recommend that women with epithelial ovarian cancer be considered for BRCA testing. A simple and easy blood or saliva sample can be done 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.
No family history of cancer?
There are a lot of misperceptions about BRCA testing, including the misperception that only those with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer or those who are diagnosed at a young age should be tested. But family history and age are poor predictors of BRCA status in ovarian cancer patients, so it’s important for all women with ovarian cancer to be tested.
Important BRCA Facts:
• Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system and is often diagnosed late because symptoms mirror everyday ailments.
• Women with BRCA gene mutations have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.
• BRCA status in ovarian cancer affects treatment outcomes, and there are treatment options available specifically for women with BRCA mutations
• The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 21,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the Unites States in 2015, and that a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer is 1 in 73.
• An estimated 15% of ovarian cancers are linked to BRCA mutations.
• Nearly one half of women with ovarian cancer who are BRCA-positive have no significant family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
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Learn More:
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