MIAMI – It’s estimated that nearly two million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year and a certain percentage of these cancers come from inherited mutations within the body.
A new Southeast Florida clinic is focusing on diagnosing and treating patients and their family members who present with genetic risk factors.
Cortney bridges was just 37 years old when she discovered lumps in each breast.
Further testing revealed the growth on the left side was indeed malignant.
“Biopsy comes back, confirms I have triple-negative breast cancer,” Bridges said.
Genetic testing subsequently showed she carried a mutation in the BRCA gene.
“It’s still shocking because I mean I didn’t even know about it,” Bridges said.
Oncologist Dr. Carmen Calfa said genetic testing for gene mutations linked to certain types of cancer has existed for some time.
“But as the years went by, we found there were more patients that we thought of had a genetic mutation that caused a big risk of cancer and we also learned that there are a lot more genes that we initially knew of,” Calfa said.
That led to the development of the genetic predisposition syndrome clinic at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center to provide specialized coordinated care beyond the diagnosed patient.
“Testing with the purpose of finding a genetic mutation that explains the cancer that is happening in certain individuals or the whole family--it comes with a lot of advantages because once the patient knows they carry a genetic mutation that predisposes them to cancer, it also increases the risk of added cancers linked to that gene,” Calfa said.
Following her diagnosis, other members of Bridge’s family also tested positive for the BRCA gene mutation.
“If I had the knowledge I had now I definitely would have a thousand percent I would have done a preventive a thousand percent because I’m blessed to be here,” Bridges said.
Knowing someone’s pre-disposition to various genetic cancers allows for early screening and intervention and experts at the G.P.S. clinic can combine their knowledge to advance research into new therapies.