Familial breast cancer

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Familial Breast Cancer

Familial breast cancer (pronunciation: fuh-MIL-ee-uhl brest KAN-ser) is a type of breast cancer that occurs in families more often than would be expected by chance. These families have a high number of relatives who have had breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or sometimes other types of cancer.

Etymology

The term "familial" is derived from the Latin word "familia" meaning family, and "breast cancer" is derived from the Old English "breost" meaning breast and the Latin "cancer" meaning crab, due to the crab-like spread of an invasive tumor.

Definition

Familial breast cancer is not a single disease but a collection of genetic conditions that can lead to the disease. It is different from hereditary breast cancer, which is caused by specific inherited gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Familial breast cancer, on the other hand, likely results from the interaction of genetic factors with environmental and lifestyle factors.

Related Terms

  • Breast Cancer: A disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.
  • Hereditary Breast Cancer: Breast cancer that develops as a result of a gene mutation passed on from a parent.
  • BRCA1 and BRCA2: Genes that produce proteins that help repair damaged DNA. Mutations in these genes can lead to the development of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
  • Ovarian Cancer: A type of cancer that begins in the ovaries.
  • Genetic Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene.

See Also

External links

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