Abstract
Estimates suggest that about 80% of breast cancers and 90% of ovarian cancers are sporadic [1]; only 5% to 10% of breast cancers are hereditary. Hereditary mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for 60% of inherited breast and ovarian cancers [1]. According to data from the National Cancer Institute [2], the risk of a BRCA2 mutation carrier developing breast cancer by age 70 years is 45%, and her risk of developing ovarian cancer is 11%–17%; BRCA1 mutation carriers have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer (55%–65%) and a higher risk of ovarian cancer (39%). Until recently, the management of breast cancers resulting from a BRCA mutation did not differ from management of sporadic tumors. However, genetic information is now important in planning surgeries and adjuvant therapies, and genetic testing for BRCA mutations is increasingly being used for risk assessment. This article will examine the pros and cons of such testing and discuss how it can affect patient care.
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