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Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers affecting women but also, in some numbers, men. It occurs when the breast tissue cells proliferate unchecked, creating a tumor that can travel to other organs. Breast cancer comes in many varieties, and the most common is invasive ductal carcinoma. The symptoms include a lump in the breast, changes in breast size or shape, and secreting fluids other than breastmilk.

The Genetic Impact of Breast Cancer.
Breast cancer is strongly genetically related – not necessarily hereditary. In about 5–10 percent of breast cancers, genetic mutations are inherited. The two most well-known genes that increase risk of breast cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes repair damaged DNA, and mutations disrupt their function, making you more vulnerable to cancer. Mutations in these genes increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer much more early in women.

Along with BRCA1 and BRCA2, there are other genes, including TP53, PTEN, and PALB2, all of which play a role in risk of breast cancer, but their effects are generally less pronounced than BRCA1 and BRCA2. Such genetic conditions can be detected using genetic testing, allowing individuals to learn their risk and make informed surveillance and prevention decisions.

Environmental Factors 

Food and Nutrition: We have heard that a diet rich in saturated fat and low in fruits and vegetables may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer. In contrast, an antioxidant-and-vitamin-rich diet is protective. As the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) highlights, a high processed meat and alcohol diet increases breast cancer risk.
 

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Hello Everyone,

Thank you all so much for your great input into the relationship between genetics and medical conditions so far. It is definitely evident that many conditions have a genetic basis, even if we do not currently fully understand that genetic link. However, as we all know, just because someone has a gene for a particular condition does not mean that they will develop the condition. Some genes need something to “activate” the process and that is where our environmental exposures and lifestyle factors come in to play, Remember when you learned about proto-oncogenes and oncogenes in nursing school or in your area of specilaty? There are many different factors that can cause those proto-oncogenes to convert into genes that develop cancer.

I think genetic testing is something that is going to become more common in our future in healthcare and having an understanding of genetics and genomics is going to become essential for nurses. The following link through the John Hopkins School of Nursing has a list of different resources and webinars related to the topic of genetics in nursing practice. I hope you find this helpful ????