“When breast cancer is detected early, in the localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 98%” (National Cancer Institute)
In 2013, the American Cancer Society’s estimates:
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%). Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1989, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.
Approximately 7% of breast cancer and 11 – 15% of ovarian cancer cases are caused by mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. When someone carries a mutation in either of these genes, they have a syndrome called Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome. Myriad offers testing to determine whether a patient is a carrier of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. When assessing the risk of carrying these mutations a patient’s personal and family history is collected to investigate the risk for HBOC. Once a patient is identified as being at increased risk of HBOC, genetic test results provide the most accurate means of cancer risk assessment for a patient. (see table 1)
The American Cancer Society estimates for ovarian cancer in the United States for 2013 are:
Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer among women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers. It ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Ovarian cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in women. A woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 72. Her lifetime chance of dying from ovarian cancer is about 1 in 100. (These statistics don’t count low malignant potential ovarian tumors.) This cancer mainly develops in older women. About half of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older. It is more common in white women that African-American women. The rate at which women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer has been slowly falling over the past 20 years.
Approximately 11 – 15% of ovarian cancer and 7% of breast cancer cases are caused by mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. When someone carries a mutation in either of these genes, they have a syndrome called Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome.1,2,3 Myriad offers testing to determine whether a patient is a carrier of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. When assessing the risk of carrying these mutations a patient’s personal and family history is collected to investigate the risk for HBOC. Once a patient is identified as being at increased risk of HBOC, genetic test results provide the most accurate means of cancer risk assessment for a patient. (see Table 1)
Table 1
In the United States, cancer of the endometrium is the most common cancer of the female reproductive organs. The American Cancer Society estimates for endometrial cancer in the United States for 2013 are:
These estimates include both endometrial cancers and uterine sarcomas. About 2% of uterine body cancers are sarcomas, so the actual numbers for endometrial cancer cases and deaths are slightly lower than these estimates. Endometrial cancer is rare in women under the age of 40. Most cases are found in women aged 50 and over, with more than half of all endometrial cancer cases diagnosed in the 50 to 69 age group. The average chance of a woman being diagnosed with this cancer during her lifetime is about one in 38. There are over 500,000 women who are survivors of this cancer. This cancer is more common in white women, but black women are more likely to die from it. (American Cancer Society).
Table 2
About 3% to 5% of colorectal cancers are believed to be caused by mutations in the MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, or EPCAM genes.40 When someone carries a mutation in any of these genes, they have a syndrome called Lynch syndrome. Lynch syndrome is also called Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer syndrome (HNPCC). (see Table 2 above)
People with Lynch syndrome are at higher risk of developing several different types of cancer, including:
Some patients may also develop sebaceous adenomas, a non-cancerous tumor of an oil-producing gland.
An individual with, or a family history† of, any of the following:
* Assessment criteria based on medical society guidelines. For these individual medical society guidelines, go to www.MyriadPro.com/guidelines.
† Family members include first-, second-, and third-degree blood relatives on both your mother and father’s sides.
‡ HBOC syndrome-associated cancers include breast (including ductile carcinoma in situ [DCIS]), ovarian, pancreatic, and aggressive prostate cancers.
§ Lynch syndrome-associated cancers include colon/rectal, uterine/endometrial, ovarian, stomach/gastric, kidney/urinary tract, biliary tract, small bowel, pancreas, brain, and sebaceous adenoma cancers.
We offer a new genetic test from Myriad Genetics, called myRisk™. This “panel” test determines whether you are a carrier of any one of the gene mutations discussed above. When assessing the risk of carrying these mutations, your personal and family history are collected to investigate the risk for breast cancer, or uterine cancer (Lynch syndrome). If you have any indicators for being at increased risk for these cancers, our genetic tests can provide the most accurate means of cancer risk assessment. To find out if you are genetically at risk for any of these cancers, go through the following questionnaires, then take our Hereditary Cancer Quiz. If you find indicators that you may be at risk, call us to schedule an appointment to be tested or book your appointment online.
The following questions can you help determine whether you have a higher risk for breast cancer because of your cancer history and your family’s history. Knowing the potential risk can help you and your doctor make better, more informed decisions about your health, before the onset of cancer or before a second cancer has a chance to develop. Testing should be considered for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer if:
The following questions can be asked to help determine whether someone has a higher risk for ovarian cancer because of their own cancer history and their family’s history. Knowing the potential risk can help the healthcare provider and patient make better, more informed decisions about the patient’s health, before the onset of cancer or before a second cancer has a chance to develop. Testing should be considered for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer if:
The following questions can be asked to help determine whether someone has a higher risk for uterine cancer because of their own cancer history and their family’s history. Knowing the potential risk can help the healthcare provider and patient make better, more informed decisions about the patient’s health, before the onset of cancer or before a second cancer has a chance to develop. Testing should be considered for hereditary colon cancer if:
*Assessment criteria based on medical society guidelines. For these individual medical society guidelines, go to www.myriadpro.com/guidelines
**Lynch-associated cancers include colon, endometrial, gastric, ovarian, ureter/renal pelvis, biliary tract, small bowel, pancreas, brain and sebaceous adenomas
To help assess whether you are a candidate for testing, take our Hereditary Cancer Quiz. This quiz can help you get the information you need to discuss with your risk of cancer with your doctor and ask for further evaluation. If you match any of the red flags above or take the quiz and find red flags in your history or family history, you may benefit from hereditary cancer testing.
About Myriad myRisk™
Hereditary Cancer is a scientific advancement revolutionizing hereditary cancer testing. Blending both genetic test status AND personal cancer family history, Myriad myRisk represents the next generation of hereditary cancer risk testing. Myriad myRisk identifies elevated risk for 8 important cancers by analyzing multiple, clinically actionable genes. Additionally, Myriad myRisk provides a summary of available medical society guidelines to help you optimize your patients’ medical management.
Approximately 5% to 10% of all cancers develop because a person inherits a gene that is broken (mutated) in a way that allows cancer to grow. Individuals with these broken genes are far more likely to develop cancer, often at a much earlier age, than the general population. That’s why being tested with myRisk is so important.
This is the only hereditary cancer test that provides information about your risk and management based on both your personal/ family cancer history and your genetic results.
The experts at Myriad, who have tested more than one million patients over 15 years, have the knowledge and experience to bring genetic results and personal and family cancer history together into one fully integrated, personalized report.
Regardless of the results, you and your healthcare provider will benefit from the knowledge and insight the test provides. Knowing whether you are positive (you have a broken gene) or negative (you do not) enables you and your healthcare provider to create a personal health management plan.
If Your Result is Negative
It is not uncommon for cancer to “run in the family” when there is no genetic evidence of hereditary cancer. If this is the case for you, you might still have a higher risk than the general population. Your healthcare provider may want you to have screening tests more often so you can be monitored more closely. It is also important that you share your test status with your family so that they can follow up with their own healthcare providers to determine their risk.
If your result is positive, there are many ways to manage your cancer risk. Understanding the information in your report is the first step. The report your healthcare provider receives will include information about the broken gene itself and your personal and family cancer history, both of which may increase the risk for specific cancers. The myRisk™ test report will also give your healthcare provider management recommendations based on medical societies’ guidelines. Knowing what you are dealing with makes management plans more focused.
Dr. Tam may review your test report with you. Make sure all your questions are answered, and take the time you need to fully understand your results. Don’t hesitate to call Dr. Tam if you think of questions at a later time.
Take our Hereditary Cancer Quiz here. Your results will be returned to Dr. Tam and, together, you both can determine if genetic testing would beneficial to you.
If you would like to speak personally with Dr. Tam or undergo any of these tests, book your appointment online or call us to make your appointment today.
