Help me understand something about BRCA

lisettemac

I am stage 1, poor grade, ER+ and Her-2+. I keep reading about the relationship between ER and BRCA, but am not sure I fully understand. Am I more or less likely to be BRCA+ because I am ER+?

I have some other risk factors (diagnosed under 40) but not others (not an Ashkenazi Jew). I have no family history as I am adopted.

Beesie

The majority - about 75% - of breast cancers are ER+, so no, being ER+ doesn't put you at higher risk for being BRCA+.

In fact, from what I can find out, women who are younger and BRCA1+ are more likely to have ER- tumors. I'm sure that some women on this board who know more about this will be able to provide more detail for you.

If you are concerned about your BRCA status, you may want to ask for a referral to a genetic counsellor. This wouldn't mean that you would have to be tested, but the counsellor could explain the risk factors and help you decide if you want to be tested.

leaf

I am so sorry you are going through this.

The models for predicting how much at risk for BRCA weigh heavily on family history. Since you do not have that information, it is more difficult.

But know that only about 10% of all breast cancer is caused by genetic causes.

If you do not know the cancer history of any of your blood relatives, then the only factor in these models you can use is your personal cancer history.

Since most breast cancers are ER +, that won't do very much to predict if you are BRCA positive.

In this study, ER + PR+ women did better than those who were negative in one of these receptors. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez..._RVAbstractPlus

Hrere is a fact sheet on BRCA. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA

You may find these pages interesting http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/genetics/breast-and-ovarian/healthprofessional

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/g...age2#Section_79

tampachick

Hi,

I am 33 and tested BRCA1+ but was was triple negative. Both my grandmothers had BC and a great aunt.