BRCA and BC pathology/types

feistybluegecko

Are certain Breast Cancer types more likely to be related to having the BRCA1/2 mutation?

Although I am the first in our family (as far as I know) to be diagnosed, my daughter has some health issues which would indicate a different treatment path if she (we) were BRCA positive. Is there a relationship between tumour pathology/ hormone receptors and HER status etc and likelihood of BRCA gene. How can I get hold of the Evans scoring system?

I am based in Asia and don't have easy access to information such as on the helpline.
Thanks for your help
P

Mutd

Gecko, BRCA1+ tumors are very often TN, but BRCA2 aren't, as a rule. If there is no other cases of breast or ovariant ca in your family, and if yours wasn't diagnosed at an extremely early age, then it would may be hard for the physicians to recommend BRCA testing, or for insurers to pay for it. Because the BRCA genes are for hereditary cancers, and so their mutations usually leave a trail of the disease in the family. So the chances that you are negative are very, very strong. Especially BRCA1-.

 Are the BRCA+ tumors treated differently? It is an emerging question, and everybody is very excited about experimental drugs, PARP inhibitors, which may be targeting BRCA+ stuff specifically. And supposedly some drugs from a very old class, Platinum drugs, might be also effective in BRCA+ bc, but the proof is just emerging. 

Taika

I'm not confirmed BRCA1 yet, but the specialists think I am due to my age (33), cancer being triple negative, grade 3 and basal phenotype. I haven't looked into BRCA2 at all though so I don't know what's typical for that. I don't know my family history, but I'm hoping I will get tested so I can find out for sure.

AnacortesGirl

BRCA2 tumors are usually ER/PR + and HER- but only about 10% (or less, depending who you ask) of these are because of a BRCA mutation.  Mutd is spot on with the family history or the early age.

Another area that seems to be getting more attention is women with dense breast tissue.  Some studies are showing an increased chance of BC.  The main thing for your daughter is to get her into a survelliance program that takes your history into account so she is monitored closer than the average, non-BC family history, women.

feistybluegecko

Thank you for these replies - it has been really helpful for me to understand this a bit more clerly.  My onc and BS are going to go through our family details to see if we fit for genetic testing.

Thank you