A A INVESTIGAÇÃO DA PREDISPOSIÇÃO HEREDITÁRIA AO CÂNCER É UMA FERRAMENTA VALIOSA NO ENFRENTAMENTO AO CÂNCER DE MAMA

Abstract

Breast cancer is a public health problem, as it is the most common type of cancer and the one that most Brazilian women die from. There are several risk factors for breast cancer and one of them, present in around 10% of diagnosed cases, is a mutation in genes predisposing to breast and ovarian cancer. Thus, the lifetime risk of breast cancer in women carrying some mutations is around 70% and, in the presence of a pathogenic BRCA1 mutation, the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 40%. In the female population, the usual lifetime risk of breast cancer is 10%.  In Minas Gerais, there is a law, in force since 2019, which guarantees women the right to undergo oncogenetic evaluation. This should direct public health policies in the state with a view to reducing the incidence and improving the management of these hereditary cancers. However, this law is limited by non-regulation, meaning that it is not applicable in practice. Therefore, health professionals, researchers and civil society must come together and influence managers and legislators to make the law fully effective.