Younger Generations Could Face Earlier Onset Of Hereditary Cancers: Study

For years, researchers have known that women with a harmful mutation in BRCA genes have an elevated risk for developing hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. But a startling new study suggests that women who develop such cancers might do so at an earlier age than the generation that preceded them.

Working with women at the University of Texas' Clinical Cancer Genetics clinic, researchers compared the age of diagnosis in two generations of families with a history of BRCA-related cancer (the gene mutations are often inherited). They found that the average age of diagnosis was 48 in the older generation, but 42 in the next.

"Compared to the onset of the generation directly before them, we found a 7.9-year difference," said Dr. Jennifer Litton, who works in the department of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas' Cancer Center and is the study's lead author. "Our findings are very provocative that this is a phenomenon that we're really going to need to watch for in the next generation."

The BRCA, or breast cancer susceptibility genes, are tumor suppressors, which typically help prevent uncontrolled cellular growth. But harmful mutations in those genes have been linked with increased risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer pre-menopause.

Litton and her co-authors write in the journal Cancer that their findings support the screening recommendations of groups like the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the nonprofit alliance of more than 20 cancer centers, which suggests screening for hereditary breast cancer should begin at age 25, or five to 10 years before the earliest age of diagnosis in a family.

"This study validates why we need to continue screening 10 years prior to the earliest onset," Litton said.

But what it does not do, she added, is explain exactly why earlier cancer onsets might be occurring. Nor does it confirm that is actually what is taking place.

"Is it that these women are actually developing cancer at an earlier age or are we just finding it earlier?" asked Susan Brown a registered nurse and the director of health education for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "A generation ago, we didn't have genetic testing. We didn't have a different set of screening guidelines for those women. So I am not sure that this study answers that question. These may be questions for further study."

She recommended that all women make a point to learn about their family history and to consult with their provider to determine a screening plan that makes sense for them. She also cautioned that though genetic testing is relatively simple -- it is a blood test -- people should consider speaking with a geneticist or a genetic counselor before getting tested for the BRCA gene in order to understand possible ramifications.

For her part, Litton added that the new study should not cause undue panic. Indeed, according to the Mayo Clinic, BRCA gene mutations are "uncommon" and responsible for only 5 percent of breast cancers and between 10 and 15 percent of ovarian cancers.

"We are still learning quite a bit about the gene, and we are still looking for other causes of early onset cancer," she said. "This is only one small part."

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Comments

[rwilli1972]

09:51 PM on 09/12/2011

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS http://www.perspectivestv.com/shows/episodes/66-episode-11-breast-cancer-awareness-

[AveragePatriot]

02:14 PM on 09/12/2011

With all of the hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and other chemicals in our food supply, this is easy to believe.

Buy fresh and local and organic if you can!

[lklex]

02:08 PM on 09/12/2011

Yet another AOL article about cancer and women. When will the news media, government and the healthcare industry finally recognize and address the stark REALITY that cancer is primarily a men's disease? Here in America, as perennially reflected by the CDC's grim statistics of death, men are far more likely to be afflicted with and die from cancer than their female counterparts. In my state in the northeast, for years male residents have suffered from a staggering nearly 50% higher age-adjusted cancer mortality rate. THIS MONTH IS PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. Prostate cancer is the second leading cancer killer of men. Why is that being observed (including by AOL and its health reporters) in virtual silence and with a dearth of blue ribbons? Next month, once again, AOL will be flashing pink ribbons and much of the nation will be awash in pink. Last October, the White House obligingly glowed pink in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but REFUSED to glow blue in September in observance of Prostate Cancer Awareness Although there are long-existing offices on women's health at NIH, the CDC, the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services, still in 2011, there is no office on men's health anywhere in the federal government. Sadly, men continue to disproportionately bear the burden of suffering and dying from cancer in no small part because of rank SEXISM.

[TaoistG]

02:04 PM on 09/12/2011

There is also the fact that the modern American woman is just floating with toxic chemical byproducts in her bloodstream, at a higher rate than ever before -

And we are surrounded by more microwave transmissions as well - cell phone towers, wireless internet, satellites, etc...

Plus, 10 years of post 9/11 stress has an impact on cancer rates as well, i hypothesize. Some believe that early onset cancer is linked to a lifetime of overactive stress hormones... but still unprovable, of course.