A better understanding of breast cancer risk can help to provide the best possible care for a woman. The personalized breast cancer risk profile generated by BREATHE captures many aspects of a woman’s breast health.
These risk factors include:
- Rare variants: changes in DNA which occurs in very few people, commonly known as “breast cancer genes”. Although it may affect less than 1% of women, having these changes in the DNA may lead one to have a much higher risk of developing breast cancer as compared to women without these changes. Examples of rare variants are BRCA1 and BRCA2.
To link the risk of developing breast cancer and different gene variants, scientists usually use genetic testing against a panel of genes. In a new study, researchers have found a clear group of genes that play a significant role in the development of breast cancer. This allows for a more accurate prediction of breast cancer risk.
- Common variants: differences in DNA that occur in the general population. As many as half the population may have this variant. As they are common the risk linked to each variant is small. However, when combined the effect becomes significant. Currently, a “polygenic risk score” (PRS, a combination of hundreds of common variants) for breast cancer has been developed.
Earlier, PRS was only shown to predict breast cancer risk in European women. But a recent study has shown that this can also be used effectively in Asians – including Chinese, Malay, and Indian women. This makes it suitable to be used among Singaporean women.
- Non-genetic breast cancer risk factors: not in your DNA. Characteristics known to be linked to breast cancer include current age, the age when you first had your period, the age when you had your first child, your family history of breast cancer, among many others. A classical breast cancer risk calculator that uses this information is the Gail model.
- Mammographic density (MD): High mammographic density is one of the strongest risk factors associated with breast cancer. Dense breasts have a larger proportion of tissue that appears white on a mammogram. Younger women tend to have dense breasts, which should not cause alarm. However, it is known that having highly dense breasts increases the risk of developing breast cancer in older women.
Source: https://www.breastlink.com/breast-cancer-101/risk-factors/breast-density/
Everyone’s risk of developing breast cancer is different. Just as some women are tall and some women are short, some women are at high and low risks of developing breast cancer. As our perception of our own risk may not be accurate, BREATHE can help women obtain a realistic understanding of their breast cancer risks. This knowledge will empower women to make their own decisions about regular screening.
