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The BRCA gene, discovered in 1994, has been linked to an increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Lisa Bancroft, a single parent from Dunfermline, was just 27 years old when she tested positive for the rare genetic variant, which put her at a 60-90% chance of developing breast cancer. To reduce her risk, she made the difficult decision of having both her breasts removed in 2020. She was inspired by Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie’s similar decision in 2013, following the discovery that she carried the BRCA gene.
Bancroft’s father and aunt had both been diagnosed with cancer prior to her testing for the gene in 2019. She admitted initially searching for information about the gene online, which only tended to scare her. However, when she read online about Angelina Jolie’s story, she came to realise that the star had undergone a similar experience. That was when Bancroft decided to follow in Jolie’s footsteps.
The surgery was gruelling for Bancroft, both physically and emotionally. She had to stop breastfeeding her young daughter, Emma, which she said was one of the hardest decisions she’d ever made. However, Bancroft also ultimately believed that the decision was the right one for both her and her daughter’s future. She referenced the idea of creating a “cancer-free legacy” for Emma.
There is a 50% chance that children born to parents with the BRCA gene will inherit the genetic variant. It is for this reason that Bancroft hopes that continued research into prevention and treatment will result in her daughter having more choices in the future that don’t require similar life-changing decisions. Genetic testing through the NHS will be available to Emma when she turns 18.
Cancer Research UK has funded a Glasgow University-led trial that is testing the effectiveness of PARP inhibitors (a type of targeted cancer drug) on glioblastoma, one of the most common and aggressive brain tumours. This tumour type has an especially poor prognosis, and a breakthrough would be groundbreaking. Just as the discovery of the BRCA genes has led to new treatments, the hope is that this research will yield larger benefits for patients beyond the particular cancer type being studied
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