Genetic Screening’s Impact on Breast Cancer Prevention Criticized: Angelina Jolie’s Case Raises Concerns
Genetic screening for breast cancer mutations might be leading women to undergo unnecessary mastectomies, a new study warns.
Angelina Jolie’s decision to have breast surgery for cancer prevention based on gene screening has sparked debate.
Research from the University of Exeter reveals that the actual risk of developing cancer by the age of 60, even with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, is as low as 18 percent. However, women are often misled to believe it’s as high as 80 percent.
Despite the low risk, women, including actress Angelina Jolie, have opted for mastectomies as a preventive measure based on gene mutation screenings.
The study found that the perceived risk has been calculated from women who were screened for BRCA mutations due to existing breast cancer symptoms or family history of the disease.
To determine the actual risks, researchers analyzed over 454,000 participants aged 40 to 69 in the UK Biobank study.
Their findings revealed that a woman’s risk is relatively low for breast cancer even if she carries BRCA mutations unless she has a close relative with the disease.
Simply carrying a BRCA variant was linked to an 18 percent risk of breast cancer for BRCA2 and 23 percent for BRCA1 by age 60.
Having a close relative with the condition raised the risk to 24 percent for BRCA2 and 45 percent for BRCA1.
Dr. Leigh Jackson from the University of Exeter Medical School emphasized the importance of making informed decisions regarding invasive procedures based on accurate risk assessment.
The research also found similar implications for Lynch syndrome, a condition increasing the risk of colon and other cancers, indicating the broader impact of genetic screening.
The study’s co-author, Professor Caroline Wright, stressed the need for responsible risk communication to avoid unnecessary fear and procedures.
The warning comes in a paper published in the Lancet journal eClinicalMedicine, urging more accurate risk assessment and responsible communication in genetic screening for various diseases.
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