Online Information about Cancer
Resources about cancer
Breast
Cancer
Breast cancer is cancer of breast tissue. Worldwide, it is the most
common form of cancer in females, affecting
approximately 10% of all women at some stage of their life in the
Western world. Although significant efforts are made to
achieve early detection and effective treatment, about
20% of all women with breast cancer will die from the
disease, and it is the second most common cause of
cancer deaths in women
Two genes, BRCA1
and BRCA2,
have been linked to the familial form of breast cancer.
Women in families expressing mutations in these genes have
a much higher risk of developing breast cancer than women
who do not. Together with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (p53 mutations), these genetic aberrations
determine around 5% of all breast cancer cases, suggesting
that the remainer is sporadic. Genetic counseling and genetic testing should be considered for families who may
carry a hereditary form of cancer.
Source: Wikipedia