Lower prevalence of breast cancer gene mutations.Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. A paper in the 15 August 2006 issue of Cancer Research now gives the clearest picture to date of how many people in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. carry mutations in the two dominant "breast cancer genes breast cancer gene(s) See BRCA1, BRCA2. ," BRCA BRCA One of two genes (designated BRCA1 and BRCA2) that help repair damage to DNA, but when inherited in a defective state increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. 1 and BRCA2. The authors wrote that 2.4% of the breast cancer patients in their study had BRCA1 mutations, whereas 2.3% had BRCA2 mutations. They also found that among white and black women aged 35 to 64 in the general population, the prevalence of BRCA1 mutations is 0.06% and that of BRCA2 mutations is 0.4%. The results are largely compatible with earlier estimates. Germline mutations in these genes are associated with a 26-84% lifetime risk of breast cancer and a 10-50% lifetime risk of ovarian cancer ovarian cancer Malignant tumour of the ovaries. Risk factors include early age of first menstruation (before age 12), late onset of menopause (after age 52), absence of pregnancy, presence of specific genetic mutations, use of fertility drugs, and personal history of breast . edited by Erin E. Dooley |
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