CosBeauty Magazine #89

FEATURE
influence the selection of breast
cancer treatment. According to Dr
Klentze, these include the age and
menopausal status of the patient,
the stage of the disease and whether
the tumour is aggressive or likely to
spread.
Another influential factor is
whether the tumour contains
oestrogen receptors (ER+) or
progesterone receptors (PR+). These
receptors indicate if hormones are
causing the cancer to grow bigger;
there are specific hormone-blocking
medications for each that can be used
during treatment.
WOMEN, AND ALSO
MEN, WHO HAVE
INHERITED CERTAIN
MUTATIONS IN GENES
HAVE A HIGHER RISK
OF DEVELOPING
BREAST CANCER.
Women with breast cancer usually
undergo a lumpectomy (the surgical
removal of a cancerous nodule)
or a mastectomy (removal of the
entire breast/s) to excise the cancer
from the breast, which can be
followed by radiation therapy and/or
chemotherapy to kill any remaining
cancer cells.
THE ANGELINA
JOLIE EFFECT
Discoveries in genetic research
has provided some valuable
information that can help identify
whether a person is more susceptible
to breast cancer in the first place,
therefore increasing the chance of
early detection.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are major
genes related to hereditary breast
cancer. Women, and also men, who
have inherited certain mutations
in these genes have a higher risk of
developing breast cancer, ovarian
cancer and several other types of
cancer during their lifetimes.
This breakthrough means that
people can now be tested for
these particular genes – and those
who carry them can be aware of
their susceptibility and closely
monitor their breasts for any
suspicious changes.
Perhaps the most famous carrier
of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene
mutation is actress Angelina Jolie.
The news that Jolie – one of the
world’s most glamorous women –
had undergone a double mastectomy
at the age of 37 stunned the world
in 2013 and brought this very
relevant public health issue to the
forefront of international media.
Faced with an 87 percent chance
of developing breast cancer in the
future, Jolie underwent her procedure
as a preventative measure – one that
brought her risk of developing the
disease down to just five percent.
It’s thought around five percent
of Australians – both men and
women – carry the BRCA1 and
BRCA2 gene. The availability
of genetic testing varies across the
country. Contact the Cancer
Council Australia for more
information. CBM
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