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| Breast cancer survival 'unaffected by faulty gene' | Breast cancer survival 'unaffected by faulty gene' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Young breast cancer patients with faulty BRCA genes have the same survival chances as those without, a study has found. | Young breast cancer patients with faulty BRCA genes have the same survival chances as those without, a study has found. |
| The researchers, who looked at almost 3,000 women, also found outcomes were the same whatever kind of treatment women had - including mastectomies. | The researchers, who looked at almost 3,000 women, also found outcomes were the same whatever kind of treatment women had - including mastectomies. |
| Experts say it means women can take time to decide if the radical surgery is right for them. | Experts say it means women can take time to decide if the radical surgery is right for them. |
| The study did not look at preventative mastectomies. | The study did not look at preventative mastectomies. |
| These are offered to women with faulty genes to cut their risk of developing cancer. | These are offered to women with faulty genes to cut their risk of developing cancer. |
| Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase a woman's risk of breast cancer by four-to-eightfold and can explain why some families have lots of relatives diagnosed with breast cancer. | Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase a woman's risk of breast cancer by four-to-eightfold and can explain why some families have lots of relatives diagnosed with breast cancer. |
| The study, published in The Lancet Oncology, found 12% of 2,733 women aged 18 to 40 treated for breast cancer at 127 hospitals across the UK between 2000 and 2008 had a BRCA mutation. | The study, published in The Lancet Oncology, found 12% of 2,733 women aged 18 to 40 treated for breast cancer at 127 hospitals across the UK between 2000 and 2008 had a BRCA mutation. |
| The women's medical records were tracked for up to 10 years. | The women's medical records were tracked for up to 10 years. |
| During this time, 651 of the women died from breast cancer, and those with the BRCA mutation were equally likely to have survived at the two-, five- and 10-year mark as those without the genetic mutation. | During this time, 651 of the women died from breast cancer, and those with the BRCA mutation were equally likely to have survived at the two-, five- and 10-year mark as those without the genetic mutation. |
| This was not affected by the women's body mass index or ethnicity. | This was not affected by the women's body mass index or ethnicity. |
| About a third of those with the BRCA mutation had a double mastectomy to remove both breasts after being diagnosed with cancer. This surgery did not appear to improve their chances of survival at the 10-year mark. | About a third of those with the BRCA mutation had a double mastectomy to remove both breasts after being diagnosed with cancer. This surgery did not appear to improve their chances of survival at the 10-year mark. |
| But the researchers said surgery may still be beneficial for these patients to reduce their risk of a new cancer developing in the longer term. | But the researchers said surgery may still be beneficial for these patients to reduce their risk of a new cancer developing in the longer term. |
| What is the BRCA gene? | What is the BRCA gene? |
| It has been dubbed the 'Angelina Jolie gene', after the actress revealed she underwent preventative surgery on learning she had an up to 87% chance of developing breast cancer. | It has been dubbed the 'Angelina Jolie gene', after the actress revealed she underwent preventative surgery on learning she had an up to 87% chance of developing breast cancer. |
| Everyone has the BRCA genes, but when a fault occurs in one of them it can result in DNA damage and lead to cells becoming cancerous. | Everyone has the BRCA genes, but when a fault occurs in one of them it can result in DNA damage and lead to cells becoming cancerous. |
| Around 1 in 800 women in the general population are thought to carry the mutation and 5% of women with breast cancer in the UK will have a faulty form of the BRCA gene. | Around 1 in 800 women in the general population are thought to carry the mutation and 5% of women with breast cancer in the UK will have a faulty form of the BRCA gene. |
| The faulty genes are also linked to an increased risk of ovarian and prostate cancers, as well as breast cancer. | The faulty genes are also linked to an increased risk of ovarian and prostate cancers, as well as breast cancer. |
| Angelina Jolie had a preventative mastectomy, before she developed cancer. These types of surgery were not examined in this study. | Angelina Jolie had a preventative mastectomy, before she developed cancer. These types of surgery were not examined in this study. |
| The study's author, Professor Diana Eccles, of the University of Southampton, said: "Women diagnosed with early breast cancer who carry a BRCA mutation are often offered double mastectomies soon after their diagnosis or chemotherapy treatment. | The study's author, Professor Diana Eccles, of the University of Southampton, said: "Women diagnosed with early breast cancer who carry a BRCA mutation are often offered double mastectomies soon after their diagnosis or chemotherapy treatment. |
| "However, our findings suggest that this surgery does not have to be immediately undertaken along with the other treatment." | "However, our findings suggest that this surgery does not have to be immediately undertaken along with the other treatment." |
| 'More time to decide' | 'More time to decide' |
| Fiona MacNeill, of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who was not involved in the research, said: "This study can reassure young women with breast cancer, particularly those with triple negative cancer or who are BRCA carriers, that breast conservation with radiotherapy is a safe option in the first decade after diagnosis and double mastectomy is not essential or mandatory at initial treatment. | Fiona MacNeill, of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who was not involved in the research, said: "This study can reassure young women with breast cancer, particularly those with triple negative cancer or who are BRCA carriers, that breast conservation with radiotherapy is a safe option in the first decade after diagnosis and double mastectomy is not essential or mandatory at initial treatment. |
| She added: "In view of this, younger women with breast cancer can take time to discuss whether radical breast surgery is the right choice for them as part of a longer-term risk reducing strategy." | She added: "In view of this, younger women with breast cancer can take time to discuss whether radical breast surgery is the right choice for them as part of a longer-term risk reducing strategy." |
| Katherine Woods, from charity Breast Cancer Now said the findings "could enable many patients to make even more informed choices regarding their treatment". | Katherine Woods, from charity Breast Cancer Now said the findings "could enable many patients to make even more informed choices regarding their treatment". |
| "In particular, being able to give some women with triple negative breast cancer the choice to delay a risk-reducing mastectomy would allow them to take back control of a major part of their treatment and offer them more time to recover from their initial therapy." | "In particular, being able to give some women with triple negative breast cancer the choice to delay a risk-reducing mastectomy would allow them to take back control of a major part of their treatment and offer them more time to recover from their initial therapy." |
| She said she was now keen to understand how women fared more than 10 years after their diagnosis. | She said she was now keen to understand how women fared more than 10 years after their diagnosis. |
| The authors note the findings do not apply to older women. | The authors note the findings do not apply to older women. |