RACE MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO BREAST CANCER GENES. Or does it? After performing a case-control study, researchers report no meaningful differences in the prevalence of abnormal breast cancer risk genes between Black and non-Hispanic white women with breast cancer.
The United States has recognized October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month for nearly four decades.
I am interested in breast cancer, so the study findings immediately caught my eye.
I begin with this observation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:
Only five to 10 percent of breast cancer is hereditary. Hereditary cancer means cancer runs in your family and could be caused by a change in certain genes that you inherited from your mother or father.
Inherited Genes and Breast Cancer Risk
Inherited genes are crucial in determining an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer.
One of the most well-known genetic factors associated with breast cancer risk is mutations in the BRCA1 (BReast CAncer1)and BRCA2 genes.
BRCA genes signal the production of proteins that help repair damaged DNA and maintain genome integrity.
An illustration of a strand of DNA, colored in blue. Pink RNA pulls away from it. One of the most well-known genetic factors associated with breast cancer risk is mutations in the BRCA1 (BReast CAncer1)and BRCA2 genes. BRCA genes signal the production of proteins that help repair damaged DNA and maintain genome integrity.
Photo by Sangharsh Lohakare on Unsplash
However, when these genes contain harmful mutations, the risk of breast cancer increases significantly.
Individuals who inherit these mutated genes from one of their parents have a much higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Not all breast cancer cases are linked to these genes, and other genetic factors may contribute to an individual’s risk.
Beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2
About 13 percent of Americans will develop breast cancer during their lives.
On the other hand, those with a harmful BRCA1 variant have a 65 percent chance of getting breast cancer. If you