Ovarian/Breast Cancer Risks

[rklein]

Hi!  I was wondering in your opinion if you felt it would good idea to see a genetic councelor regarding breast and ovarian cancer.  My background is as follows.  I'm 48, female.  My mother or my sister have not had any of the two, however my mom's only two sister's have both had breast cancer.  On my dad's side there were 18 children altogether of which 9 are still living.  One (that we know of) had breast cancer at around age 70 and her younger sister had ovarian cancer about 5 years ago and is doing well.  She was around 50 when diagnosed.  My grandmother on their side had stomach cancer and her mom as well.  Their oldest sister had pancreatic cancer and died of a young age and there are a few more that died of cancer as well but not sure of what kind.  A few of the brothers in the family has had cancer too.  One with collen cancer, two with kidney and one with lung cancer.  I'm just not sure about the others.  My concern I guess is that both sides have had experience with breast/ovarian cancer but yet not my own mom and sister.  Would this make the risk a little lower since my mom & sister don't have it?  Thanks for your advise.  

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
thank you for your god question and your complete information.
Seeing a genetic counselor makes alot of sense.
the two most common gene mutation groups are:

BRCA1 and BRCA2 which are associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer
there is also a risk of prostate cancer, male  breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer with BRCA 2 mutations

here is a link:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA

the second gene mutation group is HNPCC hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer

this is associated with  colorectal cancer , endometrial (uterine), stomach, ovarian, small bowel (intestinal), urinary tract, liver, and bile duct cancers.

here is a link:
http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Hereditary+Non-Polyposis+Colorectal+Cancer

However, most cancers are not genetic (only about 10% of breast/ovarian cancers are BRCA related)

At very least, you need a yearly mammogram
and you should ask your doctor about a screening endoscopy and colonoscopy in the next year or so
best wishes

[rklein]

Thank you so much for your quick response.  That is very interesting to know.  I had thought maybe at some point it wouldn't hurt to know that and be tested for those gene mutations so that just case I would test positive for them I could be a little proactive in being tested for the different things I would need, meaning like a mamo twice a year vs. once.  I will read those web-sites you gave me and again thanks for a quick response and best wishes to you too.