Angelina Jolie cancer breast revealed

Angelina Jolie cancer breast revealed

The doctor reveal  May last year she had had the surgery, after being told she had an 87% chance of the disease because of a high-risk gene.... 10:15:00

The doctor reveal  May last year she had had the surgery, after being told she had an 87% chance of the disease because of a high-risk gene. Angelina Jolie effect has been long-lasting and global, and appears to have increased referrals to centre appropriately," said a team led by Prof Gareth Evans of the University of Manchester.

"This may have lessened patients' fears about a loss of sexual   identity post-preventative surgery and encouraged those who had not previously engaged  with health services to consider genetic testing."
Most breast cancers happen by chance but a small  number of people diagnosed with breast cancer (5%) have inherited a fault in one of the known breast cancer genes; BRCA1, BRCA2 or TP53 which puts them at higher risk.

Jade Goody

Angelina Jolie is not alone in influencing health  behaviour.
Attendance for cervical cancer  screening rose in 2008 and 2009, when the celebrity Jade Goody was diagnosed with cervical cancer and died.
Baroness Delyth Morgan  is chief executive at Breast Cancer Campaign, which part-funded the research.

"Without Angelina Jolie's openness in  talking about her BRCA1 mutation and decision to have a risk-reducing mastectomy, followed by the publication and  publicity around the updated NICE guidelines soon after, many women may not have approached health services  and so would never have had their risk and risk-reducing options explained," she said.

Funding for genetic services must be able to respond quickly to demand, to ensure risk counselling and genetic testing is available for everyone in need, she added.

"The current level of funding available for this service should be reviewed, to avoid unnecessary delays, which can be very stressful for patients."Gene risk Women in general have a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, but genes can put some at higher risk.

In the UK, about one in 1,000 people  will have inherited a BRCA1 mutation and a similar proportion will have inherited a BRCA2 mutation. Women who are tested early can take steps to prevent themselves from developing  the disease.This may mean a risk-reducing mastectomy, cancer preventing drugs, such as  tamoxifen, and certain lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and more exercise.

Lester Barr, chairman of Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention, said: "While a woman's risk of developing  breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer is greatly increased if she carries the harmful mutation  of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, preventative surgery is by no means the answer for everyone.

"Of course, a preventative mastectomy is the most effective way to cut a woman's risk of breast cancer, however  other options should also be considered. These include prevention drugs, such as tamoxifen, which  has been approved by NICE.
"Alternatively, many  women with a mutated BRCA gene opt for annual check-ups which can be arranged through the NHS."

Sources : http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29251765