Breast Cancer: be alert – find your family history from mom & dad for protects yourself!

If your mom or her sisters never got breast caner, you don’t have to worry, right? Wrong. You’re just as likely to inherit the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, the biggest genetic predictors of the disease, from Dad’s side of the family. Having the mutations means you have a 50% chance of getting breast cancer before age 50. So ask Dad about his family history and if your doctor doesn’t bring it up, make sure you do.

With new technology it is now possible to have DNA testing (genome screening) for disease prevention. Essentially this means you have your DNA (or genetic code) analyzed to see what your chances are for heart disease, diabetes, cancer and how you might react to common medicines.

Breast cancer is a malignancy that originating from cells in the breast. It commonly occur in women, but it may occur in men too.

One in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. Most women who get breast cancer have had their menopause, but about 2 of every 8 are diagnosed each year are under 50 years.

Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast.
There are two main types of breast cancer.
Ductal carcinoma: starts in the tubes (ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are of this type.
Lobular carcinoma: starts in parts of the breast, called lobules, that produce milk.
In rare cases, breast cancer can start in other areas of the breast.

Our DNA includes both genetic (inherited) and non-genetic (environmental) factors. Some of the inherited influences include our height, eye color, hair color, etc. Also, it has been found that some disorders and diseases can be found in the inherited DNA. However, certain environmental factors play a part in whether or not we develop these diseases. The disorder or disease can be found in the variation of a single gene. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a mutation in one of the CFTR gene. This disorder is the most common in the Caucasian population with over 1,3000 known mutations.

Do you exactly want to know what three factors that affect breast cancer penetrance are?
Actually, your risk of developing breast cancer goes up as you get older. Do you know what would be the most common cause of hereditary breast cancer? Know the exact rate of breast cancers that are thought to be hereditary.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women, and it causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer, yet the cause is unknown. Each year more than 21,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about 15,000 die of the disease. The mortality rates for ovarian cancer have not improved in thirty years.

Most people have been effected by a loved one who has dealt with cancer. So much people understand the risk of cancer can be quite high. There are quite a few different types of cancer. Breast cancer, skin cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer, and brain cancer are just some of the more common cancers. However, the are over 100 types of different cancers.

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer 7 years ago. She was the first person in her family to get it, so no one ever questioned whether it may be genetic or not - especially since she was 52 years old when diagnosed. Apparently, when you get diagnosed with breast cancer after the age of 50, it is considered sporadic, not genetic. Doctors really need to stop making assumptions and start looking at the red flags - my mom had one. Click the following link to read about our journey.