Risks of BRCA Gene Mutations

 Risks of BRCA Gene Mutations

A mutation in one of the BRCA genes can put you at higher risk for:

“The genes work well even when there’s only one copy,” Garber says. “But if there is only one copy and something happens to damage that copy in a breast, an ovary, a pancreas or a prostate, then that cell that no longer has any working BRCA gene is no longer normal, and it can become a cancer cell.”

Why in the breast, ovary, prostate and pancreas more than other genes? “I don’t think anybody knows that,” Garber adds.

“The BRCA1 gene gives a high risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer and a much lower risk of either pancreas or prostate cancer,” Garber says. “BRCA2 gives lower risk of ovarian cancer and a much higher risk relative to BRCA1 of pancreas and particularly prostate cancer.”