Aims and Objectives: To report a series of cases with breast and ovarian carcinomas either in same patient or in a family and identifying the importance of BRCA 1,2 genetic testing in such individuals.
Materials and Methods: The medical records of breast and ovarian cancer patients operated over past 3 years at a single institute were reviewed retrospectively and their clinical profile, family history, final pathological reports and follow up data was collected.
Results: 8 patients were found to have breast and ovarian malignancies, out of which 3 had synchronous breast and ovarian cancers, 4 had metachronous and 1 patient with ovarian cancer had history of breast cancer in family. Median age of presentation to the hospital was 47 years and median time interval in metachronous disease patients was 5.5 years.
Conclusion: About 5% of people who have breast cancer and about 10% of women who have ovarian cancer have HBOC, caused by germline mutation in BRCA1, 2 gene. These individuals have increased risk of developing breast cancer at younger age, TNBC, or developing a second primary in breast or ovary plus an overall risk of breast/ovarian/prostate/pancreatic malignancies in other family members due to inheritable mutation. Identification of BRCA mutation in such individuals can help family members to undergo genetic counseling and follow different screening and prevention guidelines from general population thus reducing the cancer risks.
Decision-making on preimplantation genetic diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis: a challenge for couples with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
