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Progress Educational Trust, Darwin Lecture Theatre, Darwin Building, University College London, Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Thursday 3 April 2014, 6.30pm-8.30pm
When the actress Angelina Jolie wrote about her decision to undergo a double mastectomy, breast cancer captured the world's attention. Jolie opted for the procedure because of the breast cancer risk posed by a BRCA1 gene mutation she carries, and the fact that her mother and grandmother died from cancer. Jolie is still being widely praised for having promoted awareness and understanding of breast cancer, but her case raises two questions. First, to what extent was her situation representative - either of women in general, or of people who are predisposed to develop breast cancer? Second, to what extent was her response to her situation proportionate?
Breast cancer is a common form of cancer in women (and a rare form of cancer in men), but only a small minority of cases are thought to be caused by highly penetrant inherited mutations in a single gene. More than half of these cases are caused by mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, both of which also greatly increase the risk of ovarian cancer. BRCA genes aren't the whole story, however - nine non-BRCA genes linked to breast cancer are currently being tested for as part of the Mainstreaming Cancer Genetics programme, and an inherited predisposition to breast cancer may involve many genes rather than just one. Genetics may also affect people's responsiveness to breast cancer prevention and treatment, thereby opening up possibilities for tailoring prevention and treatment to individuals or groups (personalised medicine).
Counselling is available to women deciding what - if anything - to do if they are at increased risk of breast cancer. Mastectomy (removal of one or both breasts) and oophorectomy (removal of one or both ovaries) are two drastic preventative options, among several options that are available to patients in a similar predicament to Jolie. Among the less drastic options is one that was recommended recently by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - that healthy women over 35 at high risk of breast cancer should be offered preventative drug therapy, something that has not happened previously outside of clinical trials.
This event will see these and other aspects of breast cancer discussed in relation to genetics and risk, from contrasting perspectives, by a panel of experts. The event marks the launch of the Progress Educational Trust (PET)'s 'Breast Cancer: Chances, Choices and Genetics' project (supported by the Wellcome Trust), and will be followed by three further evening events at the same venue - 'Risk Assessment: Breast Cancer, Prediction and Screening' on Thursday 8 May, 'Risk Management: Breast Cancer, Business and Patents' on Thursday 5 June, and a concluding event on Thursday 3 July.
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Organized by:
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Progress Educational Trust |
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Invited Speakers:
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Kerry Andrew (patient and carrier of a BRCA1 gene mutation)
Diana Eccles (Professor of Cancer Genetics and Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Southampton)
Gareth Evans (Professor of Medical Genetics and Cancer Epidemiology at the University of Manchester, and Consultant in Medical Genetics and Cancer Epidemiology at the Christie and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts)
Baroness Delyth Morgan (Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords, Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Campaign and former Chief Executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer)
Dr Christine Patch (Consultant Genetic Counsellor and Manager at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, and former Chair of the British Society for Genetic Medicine)
Gordon Wishart (Consultant Breast and Endocrine Surgeon, Visiting Professor of Cancer Surgery at Anglia Ruskin University and former Director of the Cambridge Breast Unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital)
[All of the speakers listed above are confirmed]
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Deadline for Abstracts:
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N/A
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Registration:
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This event is free to attend, but advance booking is required.
Please email Sandy Starr and he will add you to the attendee list.
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E-mail:
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sstarr@progress.org.uk
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