Angelina Jolie’s public discussion about prophylactic mastectomy and now removal of her ovaries and fallopian tubes has raised awareness and questions about genetic testing for cancer. Angelina has a BRCA1 mutation. Here are the most common questions and answers about her decision and background about the genetic mutations:
What are BRCA1 and BRCA2?
Two genes associated with increase cancer of the breast, ovaries, fallopian tubes, pancreas, and prostate. When these genes have been mutated the body does not have an effective way to repair bad DNA, and bad DNA is what leads to tumors.
Are these inherited from mother or father?
Yes, either parent can pass on these genes. But of note both men and women are affected. While men have a lower risk of breast cancer, this genetic mutation increases the risk of breast cancer in men.
Is there a difference in the breast cancer from these genes?
The breast cancer happens earlier in life- Angelina Jollie’s mother developed it in her forties and died in her fifties. In addition, the breast cancer tends to have a worse prognosis and not be estrogen positive, or positive for other hormones.
Does everyone who has these genes get cancer?
No 55% of women who have BRCA1 get breast cancer and 45% with BRCA2 get breast cancer.
About 40% of women with BRCA1 develop ovarian cancer and 15% of women with BRCA2 develop ovarian cancer.
Who Should Get tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2?
- Breast cancer diagnosed before age 50 years
- Cancer in both breasts
- Both breast and ovarian cancers
- Multiple breast cancers
- Two or more primary types of BRCA1- or BRCA2-related cancers in a single family member
- Cases of male breast cancer
- Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity
What if I have BRCA1 or BRCA2 – what should I do?
Screening at an earlier age, and MRI screening of breasts. There is no good screening for ovarian cancer. While Angelina Jollie used CA-125 screening, it is not effective and once raised it is often too late.
Should I have a mastectomy and remove my tubes and ovaries if I have BRCA1 and BRCA2?
There is a reduction of risk of developing breast cancer with mastectomies by 80% but not 100%. This is because one cannot remove all of the breast tissue with a mastectomy. Radiation of breasts does not reduce risk, and may increase risk of radiation induced cancer since the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are not there to repair the DNA damage of the radiation.
Removing the tubes and ovaries alone reduced risk of dying from breast cancer by 80% and ovarian cancer by 50%. Again, not all the tissue can be removed, and there may have been seeding of other tissue before surgical removal.
What about non surgical, and naturopathic remedies to boost the immune system like Angelina Jolie talked about?
There is no naturopathic remedy that boosts the immune system or reduces the risk of cancer. Naturopaths are not trained as well as physicians, nor do they have a specialty in immunology or cancer.
Birth control pills may reduce the risk of cancer in these women.
Tamoxifen may reduce the risk of cancer in these women.
Selected References
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