Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Genetics (Expert Forum)
PLEASE HELP ME
Answered by
Lisa Kessler, MS, CGC - Hereditary Disorders, hemochromatosis, Patient Outreach
DNA Direct
Welcome to the Genetics Forum! Questions in the Genetics Forum are being answered by genetic experts from AccessDNA. This forum is for questions and support regarding a person’s predisposition to a variety of medical conditions such as Ashkenazi Jewish Diseases, Bleeding Disorders, Blood Clotting Disorders, Cancer Genetics and Hereditary Cancer Syndromes, Chromosome Abnormalities, Congenital Birth Defects, Cystic Fibrosis, Family History, Fragile X Syndrome, Infertility, Newborn Screening, Rare Genetic Disorders, Prenatal Screening and Testing.
This forum is for questions and support regarding a person’s predisposition to a variety of medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Blood-clotting Disorders, Breast Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, Marfan Syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, etc.
Doctor's Answer
by Lisa Kessler, MS, CGC, Oct 24, 2007 10:26AM
, Oct 24, 2007 10:26AM
It sounds like have a significant family history of breast cancer on your father’s side of the family. In order to help understand the chances of inheriting an increased risk for breast cancer, I would recommend meeting with a genetic counselor who can provide a cancer risk assessment. A genetic counselor will take a detailed family history of all cancer diagnoses, and provide risk estimates for the chances that a change in a breast cancer susceptibility gene such as BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 is causing the breast cancer in your paternal family history. As you may have read, BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 are two genes associated with an increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The genes are inherited in an autosomal dominant way. They can be passed equally to men and women. Someone with a gene mutation in BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 has a 50% chance of passing it on to each child that they have, and a 50% chance of not passing it on. Mutations in the BRCA genes are associated with increased risks to develop certain cancers including breast cancer.
A genetic counselor will also explain who in the family is most informative to test first. In general, if possible, it is best for someone who has been diagnosed with breast and/or ovarian cancer to have BRCA1/2 testing first. Having genetic counseling does not obligate people to have genetic testing. Your family can find a genetic counselor through the National Society of Genetic counselors, and companies like mine, DNA Direct, also provide genetic counseling for BRCA testing.
A genetic counselor will also explain who in the family is most informative to test first. In general, if possible, it is best for someone who has been diagnosed with breast and/or ovarian cancer to have BRCA1/2 testing first. Having genetic counseling does not obligate people to have genetic testing. Your family can find a genetic counselor through the National Society of Genetic counselors, and companies like mine, DNA Direct, also provide genetic counseling for BRCA testing.
Member Comments (2)
by eonkshabonk, Oct 24, 2007 10:34AM
To: DNA Direct
Thank you so much , I just found all this out recently , some one brought it up so lightly like it was no big deal! It scared me I dont want cancer!! Alot of people think breast cancer is easier because you can cut off a breast , but I for one never want to fight ANY cancer. My mothers mother died of Lukemia as well!!!
Recent Videos
RSS
Expert Activity
Related Expert Forums
Related Communities
