News

  • High Risk Individuals
    • Breast Cancer Survival Gene
      14/04/2010
      QIMR researchers, as part of an international collaboration, have found that a gene that is most commonly associated with skin pigmentation, hair and eye colour may influence a patient's chances of surviving cancer.
      ...more
    • Research News NBCF!
      12/04/2010
      Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered that breast stem cells are exquisitely sensitive to the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone....
      ...more
    • Should Genes be patented
      5/02/2010
      The lawsuit challenges the government's granting of control of patents on BRCA1 and BRCA2 to Myriad Genetics (USA).
      ...more

What is BRCA1/2

What does the term "a BRCA1 gene" or "a BRCA2 gene" mean?

 Some families carry genes that have been altered and due to this gene fault (mutation) they do not work as they normally would. This may lead to a much higher chance, or susceptibility, for developing breast, ovarian or prostate cancer. These genes are called the breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA), the BRCA1 gene was first identified in 1994, then the BRCA2 gene in 1996. You can inherit these genetic changes or faults in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene from either your mother’s or father’s side of the family. So far, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the only two major breast cancer susceptibility genes to have been found. Genetic changes or faults in other genes (ATM, p53) have been found that are known to cause breast cancer although they are very rare in occurrence.

It is also important to remember, not everyone who inherits changed BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes will develop breast, ovarian or prostate cancer.

 This Video below is easy to understand and explains what happens when someone carries a defective BRCA gene.

A person's cancer risk increases greatly if they carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene fault. Click here to find out more!