What is hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome?

The hallmark of this syndrome is multiple family members with breast or ovarian cancer or both, the presence of both breast and ovarian cancer in a single individual and early age cancer onset. Approximately 10% of cases of ovarian cancer and 3-5% of cases of breast cancer are due to BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutations.

For woman with BRCA 1 mutation, the risk of ovarian cancer 39-46% and with BRCA 2 mutation, the risk of ovarian cancer is 21-20%. The estimated lifetime risk of breast cancer in a woman with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutations is 65-74%.

A woman’s genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer needs to be assessed followed by counseling, BRCA 1&2 testing and risk reducing surgery. And we do that at Advanced OB-GYN Associates.