Emmerdale - BRCA Gene Information
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are 2 genes that everyone has. Changes in a BRCA gene can cause a higher risk of several cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer.
What are BRCA1 and BRCA2?
Your body is made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Inside every cell is a set of genes. These genes are the instructions the cell needs to work properly. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are 2 different genes. Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
BRCA and breast cancer
If a gene is changed, it may not give the correct instructions anymore. A change in a gene is called a gene variant or mutation.The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes usually protect us from cancer. A variant in either of these genes reduces the level of protection. Over time, this may mean some types of cancer are more likely to develop.The risk is highest for breast cancer in women and people assigned female at birth.