Breaking the cycle: Insights from the Inherited Cancers Australia community
When a hereditary cancer gene is identified, the individual risk of developing cancer increases dramatically compared to the rest of the population. For example, women with a breast cancer gene (BRCA) mutation have a 72 per cent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, including more aggressive forms that are resistant to the best treatments available. 1,2,3
Taking action – prevention is better than diagnosis
People at increased risk, often need to make the difficult decision to engage in preventive measures that are costly and have life-changing effects. For example, prophylactic mastectomy reduces the risk of breast cancer by at least 95 per cent in women who have a BRCA gene mutation and strong family history of breast cancer. 4
3 out of 4 people access Inherited Cancers Australia to seek information to reduce their risk of cancer.
References
2 O’Shaughnessy, J., et al., Prevalence of germline BRCA mutations in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: global results from the real-world, observational BREAKOUT study. Breast Cancer Res, 2020. 22(1): p. 114.
3 Becourt, S., et al., Comparison of clinicopathological (CP) features and outcome of breast cancers (BC) in BRCA-mutation carriers patients, with a family history without BRCA-mutation and with sporadic disease. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2018. 36(15_suppl): p. e13522-e13522.
4 National Cancer Institute. Risk Reducing Surgery: Breast Cancer. 2021; Available from: : www.cancer.gov/types/breast/ risk-reducing-surgery-fact-sheet
5 Government of Western Australia Department of Health. Familial Cancer Program 2017; Available from: https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Familial-Cancer-Program.
6 Harris, G. and S. Hutson, Hereditary Cancer Genetic Panel Testing: A Review of the Literature. SAGE Open, 2019. 9: p. 215824401983593.
7 Sonnenschein, C. and A.M. Soto, Theories of carcinogenesis: an emerging perspective. Semin Cancer Biol, 2008. 18(5): p. 372-7.
8 Rowley, S.M., et al., Population-based genetic testing of asymptomatic women for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility. Genet Med, 2019. 21(4): p. 913-922.
9 Ovarian Cancer Australia. Genetics and Ovarian Cancer 2024; Available from: https://www.ovariancancer.net.au/about-ovarian-cancer/genetics-and-ovarian-cancer
10 Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Genes, mutations, and your family tree: The hereditary and genetic factors that can influence prostate cancer outcomes. 2022; Available from: https://www.pcfa.org.au/awareness/pcfa-tv/the-genetics-of-prostate-cancer/
Renae Beardmore
Managing Director, Evohealth
Deanna
Mill
Advisor, Evohealth