How Is Breast Cancer Inherited?
Identification While breast cancer has many risk factors, such as age and lifestyle factors such as smoking, there also is a genetic component to breast cancer. Scientists have pinpointed genes, such as mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which have been shown to contribute to the development of breast cancer. The BRCA genes are known as supressor genes, meaning that, when intact, they suppress cell growth that can lead to breast cancer. Mutation While in most people the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes work to prevent cell growth, genetic mutations can keep the gene from doing its job of suppressing cell growth. Heredity is one way in which a person can have an “injured” BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene from birth, whereas other breast cancers may be due to genes that are damaged due to other causes. Family History Every person, male and female, carries the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. However, in those with a family history of breast cancer, the risk is increased that the parents will pass the gene along to t
