BRCA1 and  BRCA2

Click here for the source page from cancer.gov

FEMALES

BRCA1 [ CUP C akes]

mutations may increase risk of

• cervical

• uterine

• pancreatic

• colon cancer

BRCA2 [ PaSt GaMe ]

mutations may increase the risk of

• pancreatic

• stomach

• gallbladder and bile duct

• melanoma

MALES

BRCA1 [Breast [Pan ProTest]

associated with

• breast cancer

possibly associate with following cancers as well

• pancreatic

• prostate [early onset]

• testicular

BRCA2 [Pan ProBer]

The following are more strongly associated with BRCA2 than BRCA1 mutations

• pancreatic

• prostate

• breast

TESTING

Currently, there are no standard criteria for recommending BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation testing.

In a family with a history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, it may be most informative to first test a

family member who has breast or ovarian cancer.

If that person is found to have a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, then other family members

can be tested to see if they also have the mutation.

HNPCC 

(hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer)

      Click here for the source page from mcmillan.org 

• rare

• most common hereditary bowel cancer

• < 5% of bowel cancers linked to HNPCC

• Women with HNPCC at increased risk of endometrial cancer

• fault in 'mismatch repair' gene

Suspect in families with following cancers over several generations

• bowel

• uterine

• ovarian

Specifically, suspect if:

• ≥ 2 relatives on the same side of family had bowel cancer

• family member had bowel cancer under 45

• cases of bowel and uterine cancer on same side of family

• ≥ 3 relatives on the same side of family have had one HNPCC-type cancer
  [not necessarily the same kind]

Genetic testing

All that's needed is a blood sample, but it can take a while (up to a year) to get results 

as the genes are large and the faulty gene may be difficult to find.