Significant Increase in Number of Women Tested for BRCA Gene, but Many High-Risk Patients Are Still Missing Out
(WorldNews Netherlands)

Detection of mutation carriers is still not being maximized, despite more and more women being tested, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine Ann Arbor, MI, March 22, 2017 Discovery of the BRCA genetic mutation in the mid-90s represented a breakthrough in breast and ovarian cancer prevention. About 5-10% of breast cancer cases and 10-18% of ovarian cancer cases can be attributed to two BRCA mutations. Testing for these genetic abnormalities has risen steadily over the past decade. Previously, mainly women with a history of cancer were referred for genetic testing, but as awareness has grown, more low-risk women are undergoing BRCA testing. A new study in the...