BRCA 1 & 2 panel

BRCA 1 & 2 panel

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two related genes, the changes (mutations) of which have been known to increase the risk of breast, ovarian & prostate cancers. In general, about 69-72% of women who inherit a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer, and 17-44% of women who inherit these mutations will develop ovarian cancer by the age of 80. BRCA2 mutations are also the most common genetic factor in prostate cancers. Since these mutated genes are inherited from parents, identifying the presence of these mutations in healthy family members can help in early diagnosis of breast, ovarian or prostate cancers or prevention of these cancers altogether.