‘Angelina-effect’ increases women's awareness of hereditary cancers
Angelina Jolie, the Hollywood star and mother of six who is married to actor Brad Pitt, decided to have surgery to reduce her chances of breast cancer.
She lost her mother to breast cancer and later discovered that she carried a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, which increases the risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Doctors estimated that the actress had an 87% risk of breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian due to a faulty hereditary gene.
According to a report published in 2013, by the Health Information and Quality Authority, there are about 360 women in Ireland under the age of 50 who have been identified as having a high breast cancer risk.
Oncologist and senator John Crown, said women with suspicious family histories in Ireland were sent for genetic testing, but stressed they were a small minority of cancer patients.
“The tests are becoming more available and there is more awareness among doctors that some people need to be tested,” said Prof Crown.
“If women do have the susceptibility gene we have a chat with them about the array of options they have and one would be to have a preventative bilateral mastectomy.”
Most recent figures from the National Cancer Registry Ireland shows that 2,896 people were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.
The Irish Cancer Society point out that of the breast cancers diagnosed between five and 10% are genetic, which means they have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
“We know that these genes significantly increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer — women with these genes have a 45 to 65% chance getting breast cancer by the age of 70,” said a spokesperson for the society.
“If you have a strong family history of breast cancer and fit the risk for genetic breast cancer, your doctor will speak to you about having a test for the BRCA gene.”
Genetic testing is carried out at the National Centre for Medical Genetics at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children at Crumlin and St James’s Hospital in Dublin.
The test involves taking a blood sample and sending it to a specialist laboratory to try and find the particular fault in the gene.
The genetic testing takes many weeks to complete. According to the Irish Cancer Society, the search is like looking for a single spelling mistake in a very large book.
However, if a woman finds she has inherited a known breast cancer gene, it does not mean that she will definitely develop breast cancer.
A fact sheet produced by the society advises women, whatever their risk group, to continue being breast aware and to report any changes to their doctor.
“It is also important to update your family history and to let your doctor know if any of your family develop breast, ovarian or other cancers,” it states.
National Breast Cancer helpline on freephone 1800 30 90 40.
