Cancer runs to your family?
If you have high -risk or metastatic prostate cancer, You may have been born with a defective gene and you should consider strongly the “germ line” Genetic tests, tests of the genes you were born with.
In my work on the Prostate Cancer Foundation, a recent interview with an expert on germ -line genetic tests (despite the name, it has nothing to do with germs, as a patient asked me!): Alexandra Sokolova, MD, Medical Oncologist at the University of Health. He told me a frustrating story: one of her patients, Eddie,* was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Sokolova did genetic germ tests (looking at Eddie’s blood Heirs, mutations associated with cancer) and discovered a defective Brca2 Gene – a mutation that is more famous for increasing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer (see below). Eddie said, “My sister has this.”
A sister had been diagnosed with breast cancer years ago. “All his sisters got genetic germ -line tests,” says Sokolova (this is called “Cascade Genetic Tests, “ of family members After one is diagnosed with a mutated gene). “But he didn’t do it – because he was a man.”
Eddie and his family did not believe that this gene was something that had to worry about for many years, doctors did not think about it. Even Brca2Name (abbreviation for “BEast AboutNcer gene ”) and the syndrome associated with breast and ovarian cancer syndrome) now seem misleading – because mutations in Brca2and BRCA1A related gene is Known to also increase the risk of prostate cancer (see side history). These and others are “DNA damage raid genes”-fees that are supposed to act as quality control agents, preventing genetic errors from being transmitted when a cell is divided.
If Eddie had known he was at a higher risk, his prostate cancer could have been detected much earlier. Sokolova is very thinking about Eddie and has dedicated her career to help high -risk patients and their families. “About 12 % of men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer were born with a bad gene “ He says. ‘If you inherited a mutation BRCA1 or Brca2, You are not only in higher risk to take certain cancers, including prostate cancer: you are also likely to develop a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. Patients with these mutations tend to be diagnosed at a younger ageto one more advanced stage of prostate cancer, and are more likely to have shortest survival. ”
Early knowledge is a player-change. The best help it can provide patients like Eddie is his armament and his family with information that could save their lives: test men diagnosed with high risk or metastatic prostate cancer and, if Brca2 or a similar defective gene is located, you must do Test “Cascade” – Try his immediate family.
A hereditary cancer gene has a wavy effect. ‘If your mother was inherited Brca2 Mutation, there is one chance of one in two (50 %) that you or your siblings inherited the same mutation and a 25 % chance of your children. Just knowing that you have such a gene mutation has a significant impact on treatment decisions. “For example, if you know that genetic deck is stacked and not in your favor, you should consider more aggressive, treatment for prostate cancer. You may consider risk reduction surgery.”
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** Basic Terms **
Germ Genetic mutations: Changes in genes (DNA) born are transmitted either from your mother or from your father. These are different from physical Mutations (found in volume cells), which are acquired over time, and in what environmental factors play a role.
Cascade Genetic Tests: Tasting family members after someone has a germ (hereditary) mutation.
Brca2: A DNA repair gene. His job is to correct DNA errors and when not working, these errors are not stable – and cancer can occur. Hereditary mutations Brca2 and a related gene, BRCA1They are associated with a higher risk of breast, ovarian, pancreas and prostate cancer, including cancers. Other mutated DNA repair genes are also linked to prostate cancer including Atm, Palb2, and Chek2.
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Next, Part 2: Who should consider germination tests?
In addition to the bookI have written about prostate cancer on the prostate cancer website, Pcf.org. I firmly believe that knowledge is power. Save your life can start with the transition to the doctor and know the right questions you need to ask. I hope all men put prostate cancer on their radar. Take a basic PSA blood test in the early 1940s and if you are African descent or if the cancer and/or prostate cancer runs to your family, you should regularly examine for the disease. Many doctors do not do this, so it is up to you to ask for it. NOTE: Added now, because people are diagnosed with many types of cancer at younger ages than ever: If you have cancer in your family, ask your doctor for a PSA base test in your 30s. If you take blood anyway, it’s just one more box for the doctor to check. Then to see if your number is suitable for your age group, see here.
© Janet Farrar Worthington
