Is a 35-year-old woman at risk of passing cancer genes?

Question

Hello doctor,

I recently heard about cancer genome testing and how it can predict future cancer risks. I am particularly concerned because my mother had breast cancer and my aunt had ovarian cancer. I am 35 years old and considering both pregnancy and IVF (in vitro fertilization), but I am anxious about whether I could pass on any genetic risks to my child.

Would genome testing help me decide about safe conception or whether to freeze embryos before treatment?
If the results show a high cancer risk, can pregnancy hormones accelerate the onset of cancer?
Are there preventive surgeries I should consider, and would they affect my ability to have children?
Is genome testing recommended before starting birth control or hormone therapy, especially as I approach my late 30s?
I also wonder if early menopause risk can be detected through such testing. How reliable is cancer genome testing for women's reproductive planning, and should I undergo it before starting IVF?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

Management of family history of breast cancer

If you have a family history of breast cancer, then you may have a higher risk of:

Breast cancer.
Ovarian cancer.
Colon cancer.
Endometrial cancer.
Cervical cancer.

If BRCA1 (breast cancer gene 1) or BRCA2 (breast cancer gene 2) mutations are positive in your family:

BRCA1 positivity carries about a 60 percent risk of breast cancer and a 10 to 40 percent risk of ovarian cancer.
BRCA2 positivity carries about a 60 percent risk of breast cancer and a 10 to 20 percent risk of ovarian cancer.

Recommended consultations and investigations

Consult a breast surgeon.
Consult an obstetrician and gynecologist.
Bilateral breast ultrasound.
Transvaginal scan (TVS).
Pap smear test.

If the pap smear results are negative, you should get the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination.

HPV vaccination

Quadrivalent vaccine: Gardasil (human papillomavirus vaccine) 0.5 mg at zero, one, and six months.
Protects against HPV-16 and HPV-18: These two high-risk strains cause 70 percent of cervical cancers, 90 percent of anal cancers, and many throat and genital cancers.
Protects against HPV-31, 33, 45, 52, and 58: Together, these strains cause an additional 20 percent of cervical cancers.
Protects against HPV-6 and HPV-11: These are low-risk strains that do not cause cancer but are responsible for 90 percent of genital warts, which are contagious and bothersome.

The vaccine can prevent these conditions and protect you from both cancer risks and genital warts.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.