HOW GENETIC TESTING CAN PREVENT INHERITED CANCERS SUCH AS BREAST,OVARIAN, COLORECTAL AND PROSTATE CANCERS.
By Maryam Ajikobi
Genetic testing also known as DNA testing allows the determination of blood lines and the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases.
To prevent or treat some hereditary cancers,
taking a patient’s full family health history is critical. When there is a
strong history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, colon or prostate cancer in a
family, other members are predisposed, and it will be important to have a
genetic testing done to know if a person has inherited the gene that causes the
inherited cancer. For instance, mutations in the BRCA genes are well-known
genetic variants that can predispose a person to cancers that include breast,
ovarian and prostate.
When physicians and genetic counselors have genetic and family information, they can guide patients on more precise prevention recommendations and treatment decisions. Genetic factors and family history can help inform when a man should be screened for prostate cancer, or when a biopsy to check for prostate cancer is a good idea. It can guide decisions on when a woman should start her mammogram screening and whether additional screening with an MRI is warranted. When cancer is detected, testing of the cancer’s genetic make-up can help doctors determine whether immediate treatment is necessary and the types of interventions that are likely to be most effective.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INHERITED CANCERS. Your risk of having prostate cancer is doubled if your father or brother had prostate cancer. Your risk also depends on the age at which your relative was diagnosed. Men whose families carry the gene changes that cause breast cancer, BRCA1 or BRCA2, are thought to be at increased risk for prostate cancer.
When physicians and genetic counselors have genetic and family information, they can guide patients on more precise prevention recommendations and treatment decisions. Genetic factors and family history can help inform when a man should be screened for prostate cancer, or when a biopsy to check for prostate cancer is a good idea. It can guide decisions on when a woman should start her mammogram screening and whether additional screening with an MRI is warranted. When cancer is detected, testing of the cancer’s genetic make-up can help doctors determine whether immediate treatment is necessary and the types of interventions that are likely to be most effective.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INHERITED CANCERS. Your risk of having prostate cancer is doubled if your father or brother had prostate cancer. Your risk also depends on the age at which your relative was diagnosed. Men whose families carry the gene changes that cause breast cancer, BRCA1 or BRCA2, are thought to be at increased risk for prostate cancer.
Your risk of having ovarian cancer is doubled if
your first-degree relatives (mother, daughter, sister), especially if two or
more have had the disease. A family history of breast or colon cancer also is
associated with an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Women who have
had breast or colon cancer may be at greater risk.
If you’ve had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast. If your mother, sister or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly at a young age, your risk of breast cancer is increased. Still, most of, many of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. Certain gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer can be passed from parents to children. The most common gene mutations are referred to as BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes can greatly increase your risk of breast cancer and other cancers, but they don’t make cancer inevitable.
If you’ve had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast. If your mother, sister or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly at a young age, your risk of breast cancer is increased. Still, most of, many of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. Certain gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer can be passed from parents to children. The most common gene mutations are referred to as BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes can greatly increase your risk of breast cancer and other cancers, but they don’t make cancer inevitable.
HOW
TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING
Get a genetic testing done today, visit http://humgene.com/services/genetic-testing/.You can discuss with a genetic counsellor if you are not sure of what to do (send your enquiry to info@humgene.com).
Get a genetic testing done today, visit http://humgene.com/services/genetic-testing/.You can discuss with a genetic counsellor if you are not sure of what to do (send your enquiry to info@humgene.com).
OTHER
BENEFITS OF GENETIC TESTING
Genetic testing helps to identify people who are more prone to develop a medical condition that may be preventable. For example, asymptomatic people with the BRCA gene mutation (Harmful mutations in these genes may produce a hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome in affected persons) may opt to remove their breasts and ovaries as a prophylactic measure (preventive or protective measure).
Similarly, individuals with a family history of familial adenomatous polyposis (an inherited disorder characterized by cancer of the large intestine (colon) and rectum) have been saved by colonoscopy (a procedure in which a trained specialist uses a long, flexible, narrow tube with a light and tiny camera on one end, called a colonoscope, passed through the anus to look inside your rectum and colon) and removal of growths in the colon or by colostomy (a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the colon). A smoker, with a cardiac family history, is cautioned well in advance to modify his lifestyle.
Genetic testing helps to identify people who are more prone to develop a medical condition that may be preventable. For example, asymptomatic people with the BRCA gene mutation (Harmful mutations in these genes may produce a hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome in affected persons) may opt to remove their breasts and ovaries as a prophylactic measure (preventive or protective measure).
Similarly, individuals with a family history of familial adenomatous polyposis (an inherited disorder characterized by cancer of the large intestine (colon) and rectum) have been saved by colonoscopy (a procedure in which a trained specialist uses a long, flexible, narrow tube with a light and tiny camera on one end, called a colonoscope, passed through the anus to look inside your rectum and colon) and removal of growths in the colon or by colostomy (a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the colon). A smoker, with a cardiac family history, is cautioned well in advance to modify his lifestyle.
Maryam Ajikobi, A Sr. wrote this article for
Lanre-Jacob Savcoma Cancer Foundation on request. She is a Human Geneticist and
Counselor, trained in McGill University, Canada. She is currently a PhD
Candidate Public Health and Epidemiology. She is passionate on how to prevent
Genetic Disorder and diseased, especially inherited cancers such as breast,
ovarian, prostate and colorectal cancers. She is the CEO of HumGene Limited,
the first Genetic testing company in Nigeria.
Website: www.humgene.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/humgenelimited/
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Website: www.humgene.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/humgenelimited/
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References
Brown, J., Jhingran, A., Deavers, M., et al. Stromal tumors of the ovary. Raghavan, E., Brecher, M. L., Johnson, D. H., et al. (Eds.). (2006). Textbook of Uncommon Cancer. (3rd Edition). Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons. 41: pp. 455-466Matei, D. E., Schilder, J. M., & Michael, H. Germ cell tumors of the ovary. Raghavan, E., Brecher, M. L., Johnson, D. H., et al. (Eds.). (2006). Textbook of Uncommon Cancer. (3rd Edition). Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons. 42: pp. 467-476.
“SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Breast Cancer”. NCI. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
“Prostate Cancer”. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
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