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More women tested for breast cancer gene
Belgium
11:07 04/04/2014
Forty percent more women in Belgium had themselves tested for breast cancer genes in the past year, according to Het Nieuwsblad and De Standaard. UZ Gent carried out 400 blood tests in 2012, compared to 600 such tests in 2013. UZ Leuven also showed an increase, from 570 women tested in 2012, compared to more than 900 the following year.
The hospitals noticed a sudden increase in the number of requests for this type of test since May 2013. That is the month when actress Angelina Jolie talked publicly about the preventive prophylactic double mastectomy she underwent because she carries a breast cancer risk variant and her mother died of the disease.
Comments
A breast cancer (BRCA) gene test is simply a blood test which is helpful in determining the exact changes (mutations) in genes that usually control normal cell growth. It is generally called BRCA1 and BRCA2 and become helpful in determining the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Well it is not only the way to detect breast cancer, even women goes for mammogram screening as mentioned here http://qctimes.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/mammograms-made-easier/arti... which also provide quick result.