Prognosis for Women Who Carry A Mutated Gene

It is still unclear the prognosis for a woman who has a mutated BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene developing breast cancer. Early statistics released have indicated a risk of 40 percent for someone with a mutated gene, while other research has now suggested the number might be closer to 80 percent. However, one thing is certain, if you have a mutated form of one of these genes, you are at greater risk for breast cancer than someone who does not. It is not definite that you will develop breast cancer during your lifetime, but it does mean you should be more diligent about taking care of your breasts. As a carrier of the breast cancer gene, consider yourself fortunate that through screening and proper care, you will have a head start in beating this disease if it does show up.