Updated Guidelines Released for Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer

By Vera Viner

The genetic link behind breast cancer has been highly cited in the news lately. First, Angelina Jolie’s high risk of breast cancer and decision to undergo a mastectomy brought forth the major issues surrounding BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Shortly after, the Supreme Court passed down a ruling that prevents Myriad Genetics from being able to patent the rights to BRCA gene testing.

Recently, more new information has come out regarding women at high risk of breast cancer. Nursing Times reported that the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence released updated guidelines for this sect of women. Females at high risk are recommended to take tamoxifen or raloxifene to reduce their likelihood of contracting breast cancer.

The guidelines explained that taking these measures could prevent the disease in more than 480,000 women over 35 years of age. The two drugs, tamoxifen and raloxifene, are selective estrogen receptor modulators, which means they block estrogen from affecting breast tissues and cells.

If you are curious whether you are at risk of breast cancer based on genetics, you should speak with your doctor who will decide whether you are a candidate for genetic testing. How does a physician assess whether you are a candidate? The factors include:

• A woman’s age
• The number of people in her family that developed ovarian or breast cancer
• The age these family members developed breast cancer
• The specific nature of her family history (such as who developed the disease)

If your family history includes a first-degree female or male relative that contracted breast cancer (or ovarian cancer) before the age of forty, it is recommended for you to receive genetic counseling. Additionally, women are advised to speak with a secondary care physician if they have a family history of cancer in both breasts, ovarian cancer, male breast cancer, Jewish ancestry, multiple cancers at a young age, or two or more relatives on the father’s side with breast cancer.

The guidelines also emphasized the need for women aged 40 and older to receive annual mammograms and women who are breast cancer survivors aged 30 years and older are also recommended to receive yearly mammograms.

Time Magazine reported on one study that assessed the number of mothers who told their children about their BRCA gene test results. Researchers from the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center followed 221 mothers and found that most chose to disclose their results with their offspring. Mothers tended to be more open with their eldest children. A total of 62 percent of mothers told their sons and daughters about their particular risk of breast cancer or ovarian cancer (whether high or low). Mothers with positive news, however, were more likely to share the results.

“Mothers who don’t discuss their results with their kids are relatively less satisfied and feel more conflicted,” Kenneth Tercyak, director of behavioral prevention research at Georgetown Lombardi and lead author of the study, told reporters.

Whether a woman is at high risk of breast cancer or has been diagnosed with the disease, the most important thing is to have a strong support system – family and friends that one can rely on can go a long way to reducing one’s worries and alleviate some of the stress related with any disease.