Breast canceris the most common cancer in women after skin cancer and up to 15% of people with breast cancer have a genetic or inherited cause for the disease.

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ResearcherCharis Eng, MD, PhD, explains what you need to know about breast cancer genes and genetic testing.

The termbreast cancer genesmeans genes that, when altered (mutated),increase your risk of getting breast cancer. These gene mutations shut down some of your natural cancer-fighting genes. When you dont have your full army of genes fending off cancer, your risk of certain cancers goes up.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the most common breast cancergenes when mutated, followed closely by PTENmutations, says Dr. Eng.But several other breast cancer gene mutations exist. We know ofat least14 differentgenesright now, and we are currently exploring several others, too.

These gene mutations arent limited to breast cancer risk. Some of these gene mutations may also increase the risk of:

Breast cancer gene mutations arent common in the general population, Dr. Eng says, but they are common in people who have breast cancer. About 10% to 15% of people with breast cancer have one of the breast cancer gene mutations.

You can inherit these gene mutations from either of your biological parents, and the cancers theyre linked tocanaffect both men and women so considerallyour relatives when thinking about your family history.

Genetic testing is the only way to know whether you have a breast cancer gene. These blood tests check for BRCA1 and BRCA2, as well as other known breast cancer genes.

If you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may need genetic testing if you:

If you havent been diagnosed with breast cancer, consider genetic testing if you:

Genetic tests are helpful for people with risk factors, but not everyone needs them.

Testing everyone in the general population would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack, Dr. Eng says.Most people would get negative results. And right now, the world doesnt have enough geneticists tosee all those patients and do a follow-up. Knowing your family history is important because it tells us whoneeds to be tested or if you need to be tested.

If your doctor finds that youre at risk for hereditary breast cancer, they will refer you to a geneticsprofessional, such as a geneticcounselor, for genetic evaluation and pre- and post-test genetic counseling. Then, your blood is drawn and sent to a clinical lab for genetic analysis.

A geneticist (genetics expert) reads your blood test results and follows up with your provider. If you have a positive result, youll meet with your genetic counselor to discuss next steps for your care.

Having a positive genetic test result doesnt mean youll get cancer. It means you have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than people without the mutation.

Consider these statistics:

Even if you get tested and get a negative result, dont skip mammograms or other health screenings, and continue to follow the American Cancer Societys guidelines.

Most cases of breast cancer arent hereditary, says Dr. Eng.A negative result means you dont have the known gene mutations for breast cancer. But you can still get breast cancer.

A positive result for breast cancer genes can be difficult to deal with. But you can use this information to your advantage.

If we know you have a breast cancer genealteration, we can take extra steps to catch cancer early, when its most treatable, Dr. Eng says.Your providers can perform enhanced screenings starting at an early age, usually 25 or 30, depending on the gene.Knowledge is power.

More here:
Breast Cancer Genes Explained: How & When to Get Tested - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

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