• Question: How many hereditary breast cancer genes are there?

    Asked by to Amar, Ana, Andrea, Leah, Matt on 18 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Andrea Hanvey

      Andrea Hanvey answered on 18 Mar 2014:

      The first breast cancer genes known about were the BRCA1 and. BRCA2 genes. these are the genes that are involved in a current story line in eastenders ans also the ones that affects angalina jolie (actress). Mutations in genes TP53 and PTEN also give a women high riak of developing breast cancer. Genetic testing is available for mutations these genes.
      There are a number of other genes that can cause a small increased risk of developing breast cancer these include
      CASP8, FGFR2, TNRCP, MAP3K1, rs4973768 and LSP1
      . There are other genes that increase a women’s chances of developing breast cancer but the risk is much smaller .

    • Photo: Anastasia Wass

      Anastasia Wass answered on 18 Mar 2014:

      I’m not sure exactly how many there are but Andeas answer is good!

    • Photo: Amar Joshi

      Amar Joshi answered on 18 Mar 2014:

      Andrea covers all the genes. But it turns out this is not the major risk factor if you look at all breast cancers. In about 10% of breast cancer cases the primary cause is thought to be genetic and so 90% of cases are down to lifestyle (drinking and smoking increase cancer risk).

      However, in certain circumstances chance of getting breast cancer is increased. For example, if a woman has both BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutaions she is much more likely to get breast cancer.

    • Photo: Leah Fitzsimmons

      Leah Fitzsimmons answered on 18 Mar 2014:

      There are a lot of genes that scientists say are ‘associated’ with a higher risk of getting certain types of cancer. This means that, on average, more people who have mutations in those genes get certain types of cancer than people who do not have mutations. The problem is that for many genes we don’t understand the reason for this. It is only when we figure out the effect a mutation in a certain gene has on cells that we know whether it has a direct role in causing cancer or not.

      Like Andrea said, two of the genes we know the most about are BRCA1 and BRCA2 – these genes help guard you DNA against damage, and when they are mutated they can no longer do their job and so a cell is much more likely to get lots of other mutations and then become cancerous. If we know someone has the mutated version of BRCA1 or BRCA2 doctors can regularly check up on them so that if they do develop cancer they can be treated very quickly and therefore stand the best possible chance of a full recovery.

    • Photo: Matthew Lam

      Matthew Lam answered on 20 Mar 2014:

      There are lots of mutations to genes which we know to play a role in causing breast cancer and many which are also able to be passed on from generation to generation.

      The big one’s for breast cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2. The job of these genes is to make sure your DNA is repaired if it gets damaged so that mistakes to the genetic code that cause cancer are not passed on when the cell divides. Mutations to BRCA1 and BRCA2 prevent DNA from getting repaired properly so you are more likely to develop breast cancer in the future.

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