Actress Angelina Jolie recently revealed that she had surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes two years after she underwent a double mastectomy to cut her cancer risk. According to Jolie, she carries a mutation of the BRCA1 gene, which sharply increases her risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Her mother was diagnosed with the latter at age 49 and died seven years later.
“Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) is an inherited tendency to develop breast, ovarian and other cancers, and at a younger age than usual,” explained Generosa Grana, MD, FACP, Director of MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. “The majority of HBOC is due to a mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.”
These are not the only genes associated with hereditary cancer risk and a comprehensive assessment is pivotal.
Women with an inherited gene mutation have a 40 percent to 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer, compared to 12 percent of women in the general population. Women with a BRCA gene mutation also have a 10 percent to 44 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer. Men with a BRCA gene mutation are at a higher risk of developing breast and prostate cancer.
“Not everyone with the BRCA gene mutation should feel they must automatically leap to surgery,” said Dr. Grana. “The decision to proceed with surgery and the appropriate time for such will be a very individual one as it was for Ms. Jolie. However, men and women with a genetic BRCA mutation, as well as their family members, have a unique set of medical information and should consult with a physician to determine the appropriate medical care. There is an opportunity to follow specialized cancer prevention and early detection guidelines. Management plans include specific cancer screening exams, and/or preventive surgery and are tailored to each patient and their family by a team of specialists.”
A detailed family history and genetic testing are methods used to screen for the possibility of HBOC.
Further tests may be needed if the medical and family history review suggests the possibility of HBOC.
To schedule an appointment with one of the cancer specialists at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, call 1.855.MDA.COOPER (1.855.632.2667).