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BRCA1/BRCA2
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer:
Approximately 5-10% of cancer cases are said to be "hereditary" while the majority of cancer cases are considered "sporadic" or by chance. Hereditary cancer refers to inheriting a mutation (alteration) in a gene resulting in a predisposition or increased chance for the types of cancer associated with that mutation. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are known to be responsible for a percentage of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are genes that typically we all have. We have pairs of these genes because we inherit one copy of the pair from our mother and one copy of the pair from our father. These genes are passed down in families so someone who has a mutation in one of the genes has a 50% chance to pass the gene with the mutation to each of their children. Someone who has a mutation in their BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene has an equal chance of inheriting it from their mother or their father. Their siblings would also have a 50% chance to inherit the increased chance of cancer and depending on the family history other relatives such as aunts, uncles, and cousins may have inherited the mutation as well.