...In the past thirty years,the war on cancer has evolved in many ways. One way cancer treatment has progressed is the technology of genetic mapping. Genetic mapping is researching one’s genes to identify gene markings for certain diseases. Genes are found in the DNA in each cell that makes up the human body. There are typically 30,000 different genes per cell, and they control every function and aspect of every living organism (“Genetics”). People have forty-six chromosomes in two sets of twenty-three, one set from your father and one from your mother (“Genetics”). Genes control how a person is made by making proteins. Each gene has a "code" for making proteins. This is because each cell needs to perform a certain task. Cancer begins when one...
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...Genetics’ Testing When asked the question “should consumers have the right to buy any genetics test?” the first thought that pops into my head is, “wait, how much do I really know about genetics?” According to an article by Katherine Harmon a debated issue on selling an over the counter genetic test is one of great concern. When I began reading this article all I could really think was, “wow, what if I bought the test (being as curious as I am) and did it wrong?” In absolutely no way do I think I am close to being qualified to give myself this test nor understand the results. Genetics is of great importance and a serious way of finding out if a possible diseases lay within our future yet at the same time it’s not the easiest subject to learn. Since genetics test could possibly play a big role in finding our vital information, I stopped to think, “Could there possibly be limitations?” Now having read more on this interesting subject before fully making a decision, the National Cancer Institute explains the boundaries of what can be known from a positive or negative test. “A positive result generally indicates that a person has inherited a known harmful mutation, for example, BRCA 1 or BRCA 2, and therefore, has an increased risk of developing certain cancers…however a positive test result provides information only about a person’s risk of developing cancer. It cannot tell whether an individual will actually develop cancer or when.” After reading this interesting fact buying...
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...Genetics’ Testing When asked the question “should consumers have the right to buy any genetics test?” the first thought that pops into my head is, “wait, how much do I really know about genetics?” According to an article by Katherine Harmon a debated issue on selling an over the counter genetic test is one of great concern. When I began reading this article all I could really think was, “wow, what if I bought the test (being as curious as I am) and did it wrong?” In absolutely no way do I think I am close to being qualified to give myself this test nor understand the results. Genetics is of great importance and a serious way of finding out if a possible diseases lay within our future yet at the same time it’s not the easiest subject to learn. Since genetics test could possibly play a big role in finding our vital information, I stopped to think, “Could there possibly be limitations?” Now having read more on this interesting subject before fully making a decision, the National Cancer Institute explains the boundaries of what can be known from a positive or negative test. “A positive result generally indicates that a person has inherited a known harmful mutation, for example, BRCA 1 or BRCA 2, and therefore, has an increased risk of developing certain cancers…however a positive test result provides information only about a person’s risk of developing cancer. It cannot tell whether an individual will actually develop cancer or when.” After reading this interesting fact buying...
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...Gene patenting: recent debate Much of the debate around gene patenting in Australia has been prompted by the case of the BRCA genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that belong to a class of genes known as tumour suppressors. Mutation of these genes has been linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Patents for these genes are held by Myriad Genetics, an American company, which has granted Genetic Technologies exclusive rights to BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing in Australia. In 2002-3, and again in 2008, Genetic Technologies sought to enforce its rights in relation to the BRCA genes in Australia, including through demands that public hospitals and other laboratories cease to offer the tests. Genetic Technologies later withdrew these demands. However, the episode prompted the establishment of a Senate Community Affairs Inquiry into Gene Patents in 2008 (following an earlier report from the Australian Law Reform Commission in 2004), as well as legal action initiated by Cancer Voices Australia and Yvonne D’Arcy. In 2010, a private member’s bill was introduced into the Senate (the Patent Amendment (Human Genes and Biological Materials) Bill 2010) to prevent the patenting of human genes and biological materials existing in nature. A Senate Inquiry was also established to consider this bill. The Senate Inquiry into Gene Patenting reported in 2010 and made 16 recommendations, none of which specifically aimed to ban gene patenting. In 2011, the Inquiry into the Patent Amendment Bill...
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...With the incredible advancement in genetic testing, the issue of confidentiality and privacy has also garnered a lot of attention. Especially regarding hereditary genetic testing, the ethical debate of whether or not to disclose information to immediate family members has been a topic of debate. This is a source of great ethical dilemma for the genetic counselor, since the discovery of a hereditary genetic mutation can affect the immediate family members of the patient. An individual’s decision to withhold medical results and information from biological family members must be respected, but the utility of the results in potentially helping at risk family members must also be considered. However, further exploration of this issue shows that respecting the autonomy of the patient is the ethical...
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...Ovarian cancer has become the deadliest cancer of the reproductive system. Why might this be? It is because it is not caught until the cancer has metastasized. The age prevalence of developing ovarian cancer is becoming younger with more woman waiting to have their first child in their thirties. Infertility has been associated with increased risk of developing ovarian cancer; whether infertility is a physical issue or a choice to wait to have kids, the risk is present with the fewer pregnancies total. Ovarian Cancer has been linked to BRCA gene that is found in breast cancer; therefore women with the BRCA gene are in danger of getting both. Cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, are causing women to be infertile. Women then must be aware about...
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...breast lump. Breast cancer stages range from early, curable breast cancer to metastatic breast cancer, with a variety of breast cancer treatments. Symptoms of breast cancer are A lump in the breast or underarm that persists. These lumps are normally painless. Lumps are visible on a mammogram long before they can be seen or felt. Other symptoms are swelling in the armpit, any change in the sixe,contour,texture,or temperature of the breast. Discharge from the nipple that may be clear. Bloody, or another color. An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast. There’s a a lot of testing that goes along with taking care of your breast. The different types of breast cancer tests are; mammogram, breast MRI, and a biopsy. By making the healthiest choices possible, you can make sure your breast cancer risk is as low as possible. Your sex, age and your genetics can’t be changed, but not smoking and exercising and eating nutritious food can be changes or modified. Knowing the limiting how much alcohol you drink or exercising regularly can decrease your breast cancer risk is important. Studies of breastfeeding suggest that is may slightly lower breast cancer risk. Risk factors you cannot change are Gender, Simply being a women is the main risk factor for developing breast cancer. Men can develop breast cancer, but this disease is about 100 times more common among women than men. Age: the risk of developing breast cancer increases as you...
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...Michaela P. Capulong SC435-02: Genetics November 24, 2015 Unit 3 Final Project Breast Cancer Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer among women and only affect one percent of men. There are multiple risk factors for breast cancer this include genetic abnormalities, unhealthy lifestyle, and environmental. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor-suppressor genes. The mutation and abnormalities of these genes could increase the people risk of breast cancer and also ovarian cancer. Cancer develops in the breast tissue mainly in the milk duct or glands. Usually, it starts with a development of a lump then it will spread to the breast. The treatment depends on the extent of cancer. Surgical procedures such mastectomy and lumpectomy are used to remove the tumor or the whole breast with cancer. Breast cancer can be detected early by undergoing a mammogram and genetic testing. The topic about breast cancer interests me, because I have patients who are diagnosed with this condition. This topic will give me an opportunity to understand and explore how breast cancer can be inherited and treated....
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...globe, medical researchers hesitated to study about it because of patent concerns”, (Crichton, 2007, p.442). As a result, SARS has killed millions people around the world because there is no effective anti- SARS vaccine. This is an obvious example to prove that gene patents not only inhibit research but also block innovation and put everyone all at risk, (Crichton, 2007). On the other side, Calfee (2009) emphasized that some tests were not developed until medical researchers invested their time, and companies that sponsor the researchers, invested the company’s money. Then, they should have the right to patent something that their investments went towards. For example, University of Utah and Myriad Genetics should be able to patent or co-own a diagnostic test for the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 or breast cancer test because they invested their time and money to study it. Even though Myriad scientists helped identify the gene that caused the risk of breast cancer, and they can also provide high quality test for breast cancer genes, they should not patent the test and block other researchers or...
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...Christian University November 15, 2014 Due to the large amount of commercials, fundraisers, 5K runs and walks it is rare to find someone who has not heard about breast cancer, but do they actually know what all takes place in breast cancer? Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast, which means that the tumor is a group of cells that grow and spread to other areas of the body. STATISTICS Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but it is most commonly seen in women. Approximately affecting 1 in 8 women in the United States, about 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women, about 62,570 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer), and about 40,000 women will die from breast cancer. Breast Cancer is the second leading cause of death, but is responsible of only has 3%, or 1 out of 36 of death in women. Studies done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that breast cancer is not only the most common cause of death in Hispanic women, but also the second leading cause of death in African American, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and Americans. Although all we hear are the negative information and deaths from breast cancer, the survival rate in the United States of women who have survived breast cancer is 2.8 million. ETIOLOGY Hormones replacement therapy (HRT), age, family history of...
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...LPBL – Week II – Group IV STEP I - Unknown Words There is no unknown words in this section. STEP II – Keywords * 42-year-old * Female * Colleague with breast cancer, gave a blood sample for gene-testing, had a mutation in the BRCA-1 gene. * Her sister had breast cancer at the age of 36. * Her father’s family has a history of breast cancer. Step III – IV - Problem Sentence * * Mrs. K, a 42-year-old woman, is worried about a possibility of having breast cancer due to her family history. Step V - Learning Objectives * What is breast cancer? * Age of occurance. * Causes and symptoms. * How can you treat cancer? * Is it important to do a genetic test? STEP VI/VII – Individual Research & Report Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer: * Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are of this type. * Lobular carcinoma starts in the parts of the breast, called lobules, which produce milk. In rare cases, breast cancer can start in other areas of the breast. Breast cancer can be invasive or noninvasive. Invasive means it has spread from the milk duct or lobule to other tissues in the breast. Noninvasive means it has not yet invaded other breast tissue. Noninvasive breast cancer is called "in situ." * Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or intraductal carcinoma, is breast cancer...
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...screening for 3 conditions while others screened for up to 36 conditions (Timmermans and Buchbinder 1). In the nonfiction novel Saving Babies? The Consequences of Newborn Genetic Testing, by Stefan Timmermans and Mara Buchbinder, they had stated that many states had started to do genetic screening within those 30 years, but not all states had decided to do all conditions for genetic screening. Critics argue that not many states agree that checking all conditions is necessary. Professionals have agreed that, just to be safe, when having genetic testing done, all conditions should be checked. Genetic testing is an effective way to check diseases on unborn babies. When having...
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...Angelia Joie, one of Hollywood’s supernova leading ladies revealed that she has a double mastectomy after learning that she carries a mutated version of the gen BRCA1 and had a high risk of breast cancer. On the front page of the article, Jolie was praised for her bravery, beauty, and openness announcing her possible operation and why she had it in the New York Times, (USA TODAY 2013). “About one in 500 women have a mutation in genes called BRCA1 or BRCA2, which are involved in repairing genetic mistakes”, (USA TODAY 2013). Jolie was predetermined to test for mutation due to her mother’s death from ovarian cancer at age 56. Women who have mutations in BRCA1 normally develop a 54% chance of breast cancer and by the age of 70, they will have a 39% chance of ovarian cancer. The removal of breast cancer can reduce more than 90% of the risk, despite the fact there is a small risk that cancer may grow in the arm pit. What do BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand for? They stand for breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 and 2, respectively, (NIH). In cells of breast and as well as other tissues, the BRCA1 is expressed, where it helps fix broken DNA, or cells are destroyed if DNA cannot be fixed. DNA cannot be fixed correctly if BRCA1 itself is damaged, and this increases the possibility of cancers. It is the first mutated gene that scientist have discovered in families with countless cases of breast cancer. Also, ovarian cancer is probable in such families. BRCA2 belongs to the tumor suppressor gene family...
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...Defines and describes the process of PGD “Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure used prior to implantation to help identify genetic defects within embryos created through in vitro fertilization to prevent certain diseases or disorders from being passed on to the child.” This definition is from Americanpregnancy.org. PGD is used to screen for genetic diseases in embryos before they are placed back into the Uterus through IVF. If an embryo comes back with a genetic disease it is discarded and the viable embryos are the only ones inserted back into the uterus. There are risks that come with this type of test, 1-2% of embryos tested get damaged in the process, and sometimes not all embryos make it to the stage to go through PGD....
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...Every week when I assumed the role of a breast cancer research surveyor at Emory Winship Cancer Institute, I was reminded of why I desired to conduct my own research. My responsibilities involved increasing patient participation in Emory’s breast cancer research study and helping patients navigate a Breast Cancer Genetics Referral Screening Tool. This tool identified whether or not a patient needed genetic counseling and BRCA 1/ 2 testing. My motivation for assisting in this study derived from my curiosity for research and preventative healthcare delivery. Therefore, this was a unique opportunity to gain a hands-on experience on how preventative care operates in a clinical setting. One of my goals as an aspiring physician is to stress the importance of disease prevention. I was able to advocate for disease prevention within this...
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