Are you at risk of inheriting breast or ovarian cancer?

Early diagnosis in the case can be done through genetic tests that determine the predisposition for these diseases but which can also determine the optimal treatment. It is advisable that these tests be made around the age of 20, because women who have these types of cancer in the family and are carriers of one of the mutations associated with breast or ovarian cancer can make the disease until the age of . BRCA1 and BRCA2 can tell you through a blood or saliva analysis if you have inherited dangerous genetic mutations. Practically, these tests detect the mutation of these genes, being genetic tests designed to determine the likelihood that a person develops breast or ovarian cancer or not and are not diagnostic tests. Moreover, a woman can inherit from my mother or father. Mutations of BRCA genes are arranged on chromosomes 13 and 17 and are autosomal dominantly transmitted.

Each gene can suffer up to 1. 200 mutations. It is important to underline that not every woman who has a BRCA gene defective will develop one of the two types of cancer. Many women with the BRCA gene do not do any of these types of cancer. Testing is very simple, involves taking 10 ml of blood or taking a saliva test and the results are ready in a few weeks.

BRCA1 increases the risk for breast cancer. And BRCA2 on ovarian cancer. Risk factors for breast cancer: • First before 12 years, and menopause installed after the age of 55. • Obesity. • Alcohol consumption.

• Family history of breast cancer. Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer: • Family history of the disease. • Lack of one. It is proven that taking oral contraceptives decreases the risk of developing the disease. • First menstruation before 12 years.

• Infertility. • Polycystic ovary syndrome. • Menopause installation after the age of 55, because as a woman has several menstrual cycles, the risk increases. .