Genetic predisposition to breast cancer and ovary cancer
  What mutations of BRCA genes are found in Russia?
  Who needs testing for inherited BRCA mutations?
  What is the procedure of genetic testing for mutations in BRCA genes?
  What does the person with genetic predisposition to breast cancer have to do?
  St.Petersburg working group on familial breast cancer
 

 Who needs testing for inherited BRCA mutations?

One does not have to think that all cases of breast cancer are determined by inherited mutations and that people are prone to cancer due only to bad heredity. Most cases of cancer are not heritable but sporadic. Thus only the oncologist may estimate your real need for genetic testing, moreover this oncologist must be qualified as geneticist.

You have to consider the possibility to get a genetic consultation and to pass genetic testing for inherited mutations in the BRCA genes in yourself and your relatives only in the following cases:

• You had at least 3 or more cases of breast or ovarian cancer cases in Your family:

• You had cases of bilateral breast cancer in your closest relatives;

• You had cases of breast cancer in your relatives at the young age (prior to 42 years).

You have to realize that the identification of mutation in the patient is not fatal verdict at all. On the contrary, the identification of mutations helps both you and your physician (oncologist) to perform the effective preventive measures to avoid the disease.

To get the genetic consultation you have to visit the oncologist at your local clinics. In St. Petersburg you can get the qualified consultation of the oncologist and geneticist in the Oncology Institute named after Prof. N.N. Petrov, in Moscow you can get the consultations in Russian Oncology Center.