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October is ‘Breast Cancer Prevention Month’. Hereditary breast cancer occurs when the BRCA gene, which suppresses indiscriminate cell division, malfunctions due to a mutation. It can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. It is pointed out that cancer needs attention because if it is detected early, a good prognosis can be expected through treatment.
According to national cancer registration statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of breast cancer patients was 16,261 in 2011, and increased every year to 28,861 in 2021. Hereditary breast cancer, which accounts for about 10% of all breast cancers, is caused by mutated genes inherited from parents.
Cancer cells divide and proliferate abnormally quickly, and the BRCA gene suppresses this indiscriminate cell division or induces abnormal cells to die on their own. If the Braca gene is modified by mutation or does not function properly, a malignant tumor occurs. The Braca gene plays a role in suppressing malignant tumors.
Mutations in the Braca gene can lead to the development of not only breast cancer, but also ovarian, pancreatic, uterine, cervical, and fallopian tube cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to check for mutations in the Braca gene through a genetic mutation test. This genetic mutation test can be confirmed simply through a blood test and only needs to be done once in a lifetime.
If you are a ‘breast cancer gene mutation carrier’ (a person who has a Braca gene mutation but has not developed breast cancer), you should plan the time to start screening considering your family history. If you are over 25 years of age, it is recommended to have a breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test once or twice a year, and if you are over 30 years of age, it is recommended to have a combination of mammography and breast MRI exam every year.
If you have a family member with ovarian cancer, it is best to start screening at least 5 years earlier than the age at which the patient was diagnosed. For ovarian cancer, transvaginal ultrasound and ovarian cancer tumor marker blood tests are recommended starting at age 30.
For carriers, resection is performed prophylactically to reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer. However, it is recommended depending on the situation, such as the type of cancer. Prophylactic mastectomy is effective in suppressing the development of breast cancer, but there is still insufficient evidence to improve survival time, and side effects of surgery may include loss of femininity, daily stress, and loss of confidence, so it is not recommended for carriers who have not developed breast cancer. It is said that it does not.
On the other hand, ‘prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy’, which removes the ovaries and fallopian tubes, is said to be generally recommended because it reduces the incidence of breast, ovarian, and fallopian tube cancer. Surgery may be considered between the ages of 35 and 40 or after plans for children are completed.
Gwang-Hyeon Yoon, a professor of surgery at the Cancer Center at Gangneung Asan Hospital, said, “As the incidence of breast cancer has recently increased, many people have a vague fear of breast cancer. The important thing is to accurately determine your condition through individual risk assessment and customized tests to prevent the disease accordingly.” and establishing a screening plan,” he emphasized.
Reporter Park Byeong-tak ppt@nongmin.com
