The doctor told about the causes of the most dangerous breast cancer

The cause of the most dangerous breast cancer, triple negative, is caused by mutations in inherited genes. This was announced on October 22 by oncologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Antitumor Drug Therapy No. 1 of the N.N. Blokhin National Research Medical Center of Oncology Elena Artamonova.

"Mutations in the BRCA 1 and 2 genes play a special role, especially in BRCA1. In healthy women with these mutations, the incidence of breast cancer is significantly higher, and it occurs on average 20 years earlier, that is, not at age 60, but at 40," the doctor explained in an interview with the newspaper.Ru».

These mutations are germinal, meaning they are innate DNA changes that occur in germ cells and are passed on to children from their parents.

The average age of the patients is 64-66 years. About 80,000 new cases of breast cancer are recorded per year, 15-17% of which are triple negative cancers.

According to Artamonova, somatic mutations can occur in the BRCA1 and 2 genes (a type of mutation that is acquired during life). With changes in BRCA1, the protein encoded by it stops working correctly, which leads to the accumulation of errors in cells and their possible transformation into malignant tumors.

The doctor warned that mutations in the BRCA1 gene can lead not only to breast cancer, but also to pancreatic, prostate and ovarian cancers, and urged if someone in your family history had one of these diseases among your blood relatives, to undergo genetic screening.

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Professor, oncologist Alexander Seryakov said on October 16 that breast cancer in the first and second stages is practically curable if timely diagnosis is carried out and the right therapy is chosen. He noted that the treatment includes organ-preserving operations, radiation and drug therapy, as well as rehabilitation, which will continue as long as there are indications for it.

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