BRCA
Hereditary mutation screening
BRCA refers to two genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—that normally suppress tumor growth.
Mutations in these genes dramatically increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Genetic testing for BRCA mutations has become standard for people with family histories of these cancers: She tested positive for BRCA1.
The term is pronounced as letters or as "bracka."
Permanent DNA alteration
- geneHereditary information unit
- BRCA1Tumor suppressor gene
- variantDiffering form of something
- alleleGene variant at one locus
DNA · chromosome · genotype · sequence · nucleotide · deletion · insertion · frameshift
Cancer medicine specialty
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- carcinomaEpithelial malignant tumor
- mastectomySurgical breast removal
- chemotherapyAnti-cancer drug treatment
radiation · malignant · metastasis · adenocarcinoma · prognosis · remission · oncologist · survivor
Received from forebears
- familialPertaining to relatives
- pedigreeRecord of descent
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- carrierOne that transports
penetrance · inheritance · genogram · maternal · paternal · Ashkenazi · bloodline · predisposition
Evaluative selection process
- mammogramBreast tissue X-ray
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- prophylacticMeasure preventing disease or harm
tamoxifen · intervention · monitoring · prevention · awareness
Liability to influence
- predispositionInnate tendency toward something
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
- high-riskInvolving significant danger
assessment · epidemiology · statistics · prevalence · decision-making · uncertainty · calculators
mutation
Permanent DNA alteration
allele · DNA · chromosome · genotype · sequence · nucleotide · deletion · insertion · frameshift · nonsense
oncology
Cancer medicine specialty
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- carcinomaEpithelial malignant tumor
- mastectomySurgical breast removal
chemotherapy · radiation · malignant · metastasis · adenocarcinoma · prognosis · remission · oncologist · survivor · biopsy
inherited
Received from forebears
carrier · penetrance · inheritance · genogram · maternal · paternal · Ashkenazi · bloodline · predisposition · transmission
screening
Evaluative selection process
- mammogramBreast tissue X-ray
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
prophylactic · tamoxifen · intervention · monitoring · prevention · awareness
susceptibility
Liability to influence
- predispositionInnate tendency toward something
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
high-risk · assessment · epidemiology · statistics · prevalence · decision-making · uncertainty · calculators
- breast cancerbreast cancer, mastectomy, mammogram, lumpectomy, mammography
- oncologycancer, tumor, carcinoma, metastasis, malignancy
- Genetic Conditionscystic fibrosis, sickle cell, hemophilia, Huntington's disease, Huntington's
- Cancer Genomicstumor markers, tumor suppressor, carcinogenesis, point mutation, mutations
- growthsgrowth, growths, tumor, tumors, tumour
- Cancer Biologymalignant cells, metastasis, carcinogenesis, tumor growth, oncogenes