About BRCA

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Everyone has a BRCA1 and a BRCA2 gene. It is estimated that around 1 in 400 people have an alteration to either of these genes which significantly increases their lifetime risk of developing certain cancers.

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These alterations are particularly concerning to women as these genes increase the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. This means carriers of a BRCA mutation have a lifetime likelihood of developing Breast cancer of between 60 & 90% (BRCA1) and 45 & 85% (BRCA2). They also have a lifetime likelihood of developing ovarian cancer between 40 & 60% (BRCA1) and 10 & 30% (BRCA2).

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The individual is at greater risk of developing cancer because their cells’ ability to repair DNA damage may be affected by the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. It is the build up of DNA damage which causes a normal cell to change into a cancerous cell.

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The aim of BRCAndles is firstly to raise funds which go to the Eve Appeal who fund amazing research into many types of Gynaecological cancers. Many of these studies have already and will in future provide great benefit to people with BRCA mutations. The second aim of BRCAndles is to raise awareness of BRCA, in the hope that people who have family history's of either breast or ovarian cancer might get tested to see if they are BRCA mutation carriers allowing them to take steps to reduce the risk of them developing cancer.

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For more information and support on BRCA and associated cancers please visit our support page here