Topic: Breast Cancer and BRCA Gene
Original Air Date - October 6, 2005: “Man with No Name”
Original Air Date - October 20, 2005: “Wake Up”

A Jewish, unmarried woman in her early-30s comes into the ER and informs the doctors that she recently tested positive for a BRCA gene mutation. The presence of the BRCA (short for BReast CAncer) mutation, along with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, makes some women more susceptible to developing breast and ovarian cancers. However, not every woman in such families carries this mutation, and most women do not need to be tested.

The initial reason for her visit to the ER was side effects from some alternative medical treatment. Complementary and alternative medicine options are forms of treatment used in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) standard treatments. Clinical trials are studies that are conducted to test how well these and other medical approaches work in people.

The physician (Abby) explains that her patient may be a candidate for prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy, which is the surgical removal of one or both breasts in an effort to prevent or reduce the risk of breast cancer. Prophylactic mastectomy may be an option for a woman whose mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer, especially if they were diagnosed before age 50 and are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (generally Eastern European Jews).

Like Abby’s patient, many women hesitate to seek treatment because they feel overwhelmed, afraid and alone. Other worries include not being able to find a spouse or being able to lactate because of her physical defects. These are common feelings that people diagnosed with cancer and their families may encounter. Cancer support groupsare one way patients can meet others and work through ways to cope with their conditions.

At the close of the episode, Abby also decides to have her first mammogram.

For more information about the BRCA gene, visit: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA

For more general information on breast cancer, visit: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast

Back to Top