HOW CAN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD FOR BREAST OR OVARIAN CANCER BE INHERITED?
• Inherited information is contained in every cell in our body on structures called chromosomes. We have 46 chromosomes which come in pairs; 23 from our mother and 23 from our father. Each chromosome is made up of thousands of genes. Genes, like chromosomes, come in pairs. They are packages of genetic information (DNA) that act as instructions for making the substances that help our bodies to function properly. A change in this genetic information can interfere with proper body functions by causing the gene to no longer work. These gene changes are called mutations. • BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that control cell growth and division. They are called tumor suppressor genes. They are also involved in DNA repair. If there is a mutation within either a BRCA1 or a BRCA2 gene, it can no longer control cell growth and division. Cancer occurs when cells grow in an uncontrolled way. Therefore, a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene increases the likelihood that cancer will develop. For this reason, indivi
