Cancer and BRCA2 690delAA Mutation
My wife has tested positive for the BRCA2 690delAA mutation. She is a direct descendant of William Wallace BAKER b: ABT 1848 in Wayne County, WV and Catherine J. DEAN b: ABT 1848 in Russell County, VA. Catherine was the daughter of Hiram DEAN b: ABT 1813 in Virginia and Nancy M. LAWSON b: ABT 1823 in Scott County, VA.
There is a significantly higher rate of cancer in these lines. William's son Benjamin F. BAKER had colon cancer and his two daughters had breast cancer. My wife has several aunts and uncles on her mothers side with various forms of cancer. One of her aunts who is a breast cancer surviver has also tested positive for the BRCA2 690delAA mutation. So we know it is from the BAKER/DEAN side of her family.
This mutation is a form of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) Syndrome, and is dominate. The children of a parent with the BRCA2 mutation have a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation. However, this mutation does NOT skip generations. If your oldest living direct ancestor from this line does not have the mutation, then none of their descendants will have it either. Also, just because you have the mutation doesn't mean you will automatically get cancer. It means you are at a higher risk of getting cancer.
If you are related to this line and have a history of cancer in your DEAN relatives, please talk to your doctor about this mutation. The test is painless and involves rinsing with mouthwash.
I don't want to scare anyone, but I want our DEAN relatives to know about this mutation. There are steps that can be taken to reduce the risks, but they have to be identified first. Go over this with your relatives and your doctor to see if this applies to you and your family.
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Re: Cancer and BRCA2 690delAA Mutation
Richard Holbert 9/12/11