By: Eesha Vishnu
BRCA, or the Breast Cancer Gene, is one of America’s underlying killers. Among the list of common cancers in the US including colon cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma, the mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene resides in 1 out of 400 people. For context, a gene is a unit of genetic information passed from parent to offspring, it instructs what proteins a cell must produce such as melanin or insulin. In this case, both types of the BRCA gene produce proteins that repair DNA damage - repressing the possibility of a tumor. But, if a gene is mutated, it has an increased rate of causing harm to a person’s body. A mutated version of the breast cancer gene leads to an individual having a significantly increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer as their body is unable to repair damaged DNA.
Men and women can inherit the gene, yet, women have a higher chance of developing the disease while men are considered “silent carriers”, meaning they can still pass it down to the next generation. This comes to my main point, participate in genetic testing! This new technology allows citizens to know if they have mutated genes and fully understand the risk so if needed, they can change their lifestyle to reduce the possibility. It provides bodily autonomy and fully enables patients to understand their biological make-up. Overall, knowing this risk as soon as possible gives ample time for individuals to prevent it.
Cancer is a scary disease, but its effects can be slowed down through identification, the sooner, the better.
Comentários