Diagnostic Medical Sonography News May 2019 | Page 2

Breast Cancer (BRCA)
Early Detection
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women. A
chilling one in eight women is at risk of developing breast cancer at some point
in their lifetime. About 5-10 percent of these cases appears to be the result of
a gene defect, also known as a mutation, that is passed on from a parent. The
most common cause of hereditary breast cancer in an inherited mutation is the
BRCA1 or the BRCA2 gene.
In a normal cell, these genes oversee the aiding of proteins to repair damaged
DNA. Mutated versions of the BRCA genes can lead to abnormal cell growth,
which in some cases can lead to breast cancer. On average, women with either
a BRCA1 or the BRCA2 mutation have about a 70 percent chance of developing
breast cancer, over 60 percent higher than women without the mutation.
With this information, a BRCA gene test has been developed that uses DNA
analysis of the blood to identify mutations in either the BRCA1 or the BRCA2
gene. This allows women at high risk to know their chance of developing breast
cancer before it can even begin to grow. For those more likely to develop cancer,
this test allows for ability to take premature action. This is where sonography
comes into play.
A woman with a gene mutation would require biannual clinical exams, as well
as annual imaging check-ups to be sure no masses have developed or grown.
Commonly, these images are taken through mammograms and magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) exams. These types of screenings come with their
own risk: exposure to radiation. Ultrasound is the only imaging process that
does not expose the patient to radiation, and on top of that, it is also much less
costly. Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to produce a computer picture of
inside the breast. Sound waves are transmitted through an instrument called a
transducer. The transducer sends out sound waves and picks up the echoes as
they bounce off the breasts’ tissues. These echoes are then made into a picture
on a computer screen that the sonography technician can capture and save
for the radiologist to review. Another perk: Although women may experience
some pressure from the transducer as it is moved across the breast, breast
ultrasounds are typically not painful.
Diagnostic
Medical
Sonography
My mom is one of the women who falls into the 70 percent of people who are
at risk for developing breast cancer. After many family discussions, and because
of her family history, she decided to undergo the BRCA gene test. Very luckily,
my mom does not have one of the BRCA gene mutations. Although she is still
considered to be high-risk and she does receive very frequent exams and check-
ups, the gene test removed a great amount of fear. Science is advancing every
day, and our ability to detect, prevent and treat breast cancer is only going to
continue to improve.
Rayne Hardy
Program Intern