How far is genetics responsible for breast cancer?
The cause of a faulty gene playing havoc in the body is a gray area that is constantly being researched. We know that eight per cent of breast cancer is “caused by a faulty gene”. Women with a family history of breast cancer may have an increased risk of the disease. Age-specific risk estimates are available to help counsel and design screening strategies for these women. It is estimated that approximately 5% to 10% of all women with breast cancer may have a germ-line mutation of the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. Specific mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 are more common in women of Jewish ancestry. The estimated lifetime risk of developing breast cancer for women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is 40% to 85%. Carriers with a history of breast cancer have an increased risk of contralateral disease that may be as high as 5% per year. Male carriers of BRCA2 mutations are also at increased risk for breast cancer. Mutations in either gene also confer an increased risk of ovarian cancer. In addition, mu
