The answer to the proposed question, “Can breast cancer skip a generation?” has a two-layered answer. When you are talking about cancer and generations, you are generally referring to the genes of cancer being transferred from a mother to the child and so forth. So, can cancer skip a generation? No, the genes of cancer do not skip a generation. 

If your mother has cancer genes, specifically the BRCA genes, which are very closely linked to a high breast cancer risk, these genes are transferred from mother to child without fail. However, having these genes does not guarantee that you will have breast cancer. In fact, in most cases, genetic predisposition doesn’t fall among the top causes of breast cancer. 

Several other factors are considered more important and have higher weightage comparatively when it comes to breast cancer risks. So, since having a genetic predisposition doesn’t guarantee breast cancer, it may seem that breast cancer is skipping a generation when two consecutive generations do not get the same diagnosis. 

But there’s more to it than meets the eye. So, let’s take a closer look into breast cancer and genetics to understand how and why breast cancer may or may not skip a generation.

Breast Cancer And Genetics: Understanding Their Roles

Breast cancer and genetics are closely linked as many genetics are known causes for many cancer types. For breast cancer specifically, two genes are regularly considered as a part of the cancer risk. BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes are considered high risk for breast cancer. However, that’s what it is still; it just tells that a person has a higher than normal risk of breast cancer. 

Having these genes doesn’t automatically mean you have or will have breast cancer. Now, for people with these genes, it may seem that living life carefully and following all the cancer preventative measures can help them lower their risks, right? Yes and no. Cancer preventative measures can be used to lower your prospective risk of breast cancer. However, just like genetics, they are not guaranteed success. You must definitely do what you can to lower your breast cancer risk. But still, no preventative measure for breast cancer can actually guarantee prevention of the condition.

The BRCA 1 and 2 genes are not bad for you. These genes are usually the ones tasked with helping your body repair damaged cells. However, mutations of these genes can lead to atypical cell growth in the breasts and ovaries. Atypical cell growth is generally one of the leading causes of cancerous tumour formation. And since the cell growth is supported by the mutations of the BRCA 1 and 2 genes, they are known as being at risk for breast cancer.

Understanding Family History & Breast Cancer

Family history is often overstated when it comes to breast cancer risk. Yes, family history is certainly a risk for breast cancer, in fact, it is among the leading causes. However, in most diagnosed cases of breast cancer, the patient doesn’t have any family history of the disease. In cases where patients have first-degree relatives like sisters, parents, or daughters with breast cancer, their own breast cancer risk can double. However, as with any risk, it doesn’t guarantee the diagnosis. Here are some signs that you should look out for to understand your own breast cancer risk based on family history.

• Having females in the family who have had breast cancer in both breasts
• Having male members in the family who have had breast cancer
• History of breast or ovarian cancer among close family members
• Having a family member who has developed breast cancer before the age of 50
• Having relatives and close family members who have been diagnosed with other types of cancer, such as stomach, colon, or prostate cancer

These factors can be used to identify your risk of family history based breast cancer possibilities. So, make sure you are aware of your family’s medical history as well as your own to keep your cancer risk in check. You can also go through genetic makeup tests on the advice of your doctors to learn more about your genetic breast cancer and other medical risks.

Preventative Measures For Genetic Breast Cancer Risk Mitigation

Now that you know the truth about the breast cancer risk associated with family history and genetics, how do you deal with it if you have any of the factors discussed above? Well, the first thing is to put effort into living a healthy and holistic life. Eating better, exercising, giving up bad lifestyle choices, all these things can help you maintain your health and protect yourself against breast cancer. Here are certain preventative measures that you can take to ensure genetic breast cancer risk mitigation.

• Regular Screening Tests: Be it self-assessments in front of a mirror or mammograms, doctors will recommend going through regular screenings to identify and diagnose the condition as early as possible and help you reduce your risk. To be precise, doctors may recommend you start going through diagnostic cancer screening tests before you turn 40. They may also recommend you go through annual MRIs and ultrasounds to ensure any developments of lumps or tumours in your breasts can be identified and dealt with at the earliest.
   
• Preventative Therapy Treatment: Oestrogen is known to promote the growth of malignant tumours in breasts. In patients with a serious risk of breast cancer, doctors can recommend going through preventive hormonal therapy to reduce the level of oestrogen in the body. There are several medications doctors can prescribe to keep the risk of breast cancer in check.
   
• Preventative Surgical Treatment: Surgical treatment may be recommended to patients even before any breast cancer symptoms develop. In cases where breast cancer genetic predisposition is a risk, doctors recommend preventative surgery such as bilateral prophylactic mastectomies or salpingo-oophorectomy. 

These surgeries involve the removal of either one or both breasts as well as the nipples to reduce the risk of breast cancer. These surgeries are aggressive, but they can reduce the risk of breast cancer effectively. Based on the type of surgery recommended, the risk of breast cancer, even if high-risk patients, can be reduced by 50% up to 85% with these surgical treatments.

Conclusion

When it comes to breast cancer, the risks are certainly present, and it can be incredibly scary for patients to go through them. However, with the right help, it is possible to get preventative treatment to prevent breast cancer symptoms from appearing. To learn more about breast cancer risks and the role of family history or genetics in creating your breast cancer profile, check out MASSH. 

We specialise in minimally invasive surgeries for breast cancer that are low-risk and have quick recovery for our patients. We specialise in highly advanced surgical treatments that minimise the risk of any peripheral damage to surrounding structures during surgery. Check out our website or visit us today to learn more about breast cancer treatment at MASSH.