82. BRCA GENES

♤ The BRCA genes – BRCA1 and BRCA2 – are two genes that have been associated with hereditary forms of breast and ovarian cancer.

♤ BRCA1 and BRCA2 are believed to be tumor suppressor genes, which mean that when they are functioning normally, they suppress the growth of cancerous cells.

♤ Women who have certain mutations along these genes have an elevated lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer because their ability to suppress cancerous growth has been reduced.