Essay Example on Unraveling the Role of BRCA1 & BRCA2 in Breast Cancer

Introduction

Breast cancer has two primary mutant genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which play a significant role in the genetic mechanisms of the disease. Primarily, mutations in these two genes have been attributed to the majority of the world's breast cancer cases (National Cancer Institute 2). Statistics show that these abnormalities account for approximately 20% to 25% of the total cases reported. Essentially, the central role of the BRCA family of genes is to generate proteins that prevent human cells from developing abnormally. However, if an individual is born with the hereditary form of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, they have a high likelihood of developing cancer at some point in their life.

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The Risk

If genetic testing ends up revealing that JK does carry the BRCA1 gene, it means that she stands a risk of developing breast cancer. Statistically, women who inherit the BRCA1 gene are said to have a 55% to 65% risk of getting the disease before menopause or by age 70 ((Apostolou and Florentia 3). Additionally, she has the possibility of developing a second primary breast cancer, as well as bilateral breast cancer, which infects both breasts.

Proportions Attributed to Inherited Forms

Inheritance of the two primary abnormal genes that cause breast cancer accounts for approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases. However, the general proportion of breast cancers attributed to hereditary factors is 10% to 30%, some of which are not caused by BRCA1 or BRCA2 (Apostolou and Florentia 3). Considering these statistics, JK’s case is peculiar due to the various factors that she has, which already precludes the possibility of having the disease.

Other Cancers to which JK might be prone

Given the BRCA1 gene's presence, JK is likely to suffer from other forms of cancer, such as ovarian cancer, which then increases the possibility of suffering from a deadly uterine cancer. The risk is significant as the gene tends to mutate within the host’s body, leading to higher risks of other cancers compared to women whose genes do not mutate. The lethal uterine cancer is known as uterine serous carcinoma and is common among women who have the hereditary BRCA gene (Possibility 1). The seriousness of the matter is that this type of cancer is extremely aggressive to the extent that it accounts for over half of all deaths from uterine cancer.

Additional Risk Factors that should be Investigated

Most of the risk factors for breast cancer are often beyond an individual’s control, such as medical history and age. JK’s medical history should be investigated for such factors as exposure to estrogen, unusual breast cell changes, radiation therapy, and so on (Breastcancer.org 1). Such are elements that JK may not be able to control during her lifetime but might have exposed her to breast cancer. In addition to her family history that presents an imminent risk, pregnancy and breastfeeding are other factors that, in full-term, reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Conclusion

In summary, the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutant genes are the primary hereditary factors associated with breast cancer. JK’s family history reveals that there is a significant possibility of developing the disease at some point in her life, which can only be proven through genetic testing. The primary role of the BRCA gene is to prevent the abnormal development of cells, but it leads to breast cancer when it mutates in BRCA1 or BRCA2. There is a high proportion associated with inheritance, and if JK has the BRCA1 gene, she stands the risk of having other types of cancer. As a result, she should be checked for other factors that may expose her to the risk of getting breast cancer.

Works Cited

Apostolou, Paraskevi, and Florentia Fostira. "Hereditary breast cancer: the era of new susceptibility genes." BioMed research international 2013 (2013).

Breastcancer.org. "Breast Cancer Risk Factors." Breastcancer.org, 4 Feb. 2016, www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/risk/factors.

National Cancer Institute. "Comprehensive Cancer Information." National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov.

Possibility, D'. "'Breast Cancer Gene' BRCA1 Linked to Aggressive Uterine Cancer." POA'S TRIANGLE, 1 July 2016, www.calmdove.com/2016/07/breast-cancer-gene-brca1-linked-to.html.