Transcript for: Here’s a video with Kathleen talking about genetic links to breast cancer.
Hi I'm Kathleen Buckley and I'm a genetic counselor at Grand River Hospital's Regional Cancer Centre.
There's been a lot of talk lately about the Jolie Effect. Actress Angelina Jolie recently underwent a double mastectomy. That's because she's a carrier of a DNA change called a mutation in one of the two genes linked to inherited breast cancer.
The genetic counselors at the cancer center have had a lot of calls recently from women asking what they should do. I'd like to give you some facts.
About 10 percent of women with breast cancer have an inherited predisposition. Two genes have been linked to inherited breast cancer. They're called BRCA one and BRCA two.
Angelina Jolie carries a mutation which is like a typo in the BRCA one gene.
About one in every five hundred women have a mutation in BRCA one or BRCA two.
Women who carry one of these mutations are four eight times more likely than other women to have breast cancer in their lifetime.
So how do you know if you're at risk? It's important to look at breast cancers throughout your family on both your mom's side and your dad's side. Men can also carry these mutations which can be passed on to children.
Speak to your doctor about a genetics referral if you have a family history of multiple women with breast or ovarian cancer, breast cancer before age 50, seros ovarian cancer at any age, breast cancer in a Jewish family, or male breast cancer.
From there, your doctor can refer you to a genetics counselor here at the Cancer Centre. We can speak to you, look at your family history and personal risk factors and in some cases arrange for genetic testing.
Not every woman we see will be offered genetic testing, but every woman will receive a personalized risk assessment and screening guidance.
Grand River Hospital also conducts testing for women at higher risk through its MRI unit and at the Waterloo Wellington Breast Centre at Freeport.
Keep in mind while genetics play a part in cancer, there are other factors within your control too.
So in general please make sure you eat a healthy diet, exercise, don't smoke, reduce alcohol consumption, practice sun safety, and talk to your doctor about screening exams like pap smears, stool tests and regular mammograms.
Thank you for your time and interest.
