Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Understanding Hereditary Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to focus on the importance of early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Hereditary breast cancer, which accounts for approximately 10% of all breast cancers, is caused by mutated genes inherited from parents.

What is Hereditary Breast Cancer?

Hereditary breast cancer occurs when the BRCA gene, which suppresses indiscriminate cell division, does not function properly due to a mutation. This can lead to the development of not only breast cancer, but also cancer of the ovaries, pancreas, uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes.

How is Hereditary Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

A genetic mutation test can confirm the presence of a BRCA gene mutation through a simple blood test. This test only needs to be done once in a lifetime.

Screening and Prevention

If you are a “breast cancer gene mutation carrier,” you should plan when to begin screening by considering your family history. Recommended screening options include:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the breast once or twice a year for those over 25
• A combination of a mammogram and breast exam every year for those over 30
• Transvaginal ultrasound and blood tests with ovarian cancer tumor markers starting at age 30 for those with a family member with ovarian cancer

Prophylactic Measures

For carriers, prophylactic measures such as resection may be recommended to reduce cancer incidence and mortality. However, this is typically recommended on a case-by-case basis.

Expert Insights

Gwang-Hyeon Yoon, professor of surgery at the Cancer Center of Gangneung Asan Hospital, emphasizes the importance of individual risk assessment and personalized testing to prevent breast cancer. “The important thing is to determine accurately your condition through individual risk assessment and personalized testing to prevent the disease accordingly, and establishing a screening plan,” he stressed.

By understanding hereditary breast cancer and taking proactive steps towards screening and prevention, we can work towards a future where breast cancer is no longer a life-threatening disease.