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Risk of Cancer?

A 28-year-old woman consults you because of a strong family history of cancer. Her mother developed breast cancer at the age of 35 and she has two maternal aunts both with premenopausal breast cancer. Her grandmother developed cancer of the ovary at the age of 52, and her maternal great aunt also died from an intra-abdominal malignancy, cause unknown.

You arrange a 'genetic test' for cancer and she is found to have a BRCA1 mutation.

Breast Scan



  1. What is this condition called?

  2. Name two therapies that might be effective in suppressing this condition (and hence aid the woman's fertility).

  3. What additional lifestyle advice should you give her?

  4. What is the essential difference between 'conservative' and 'radical' surgery for this condition?

  5. Name four pregnancy-related or non-pregnancy-related problems that can cause similar symptoms to this condition?

Answers

BRCA1 mutation



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