FTC: Genetics in Breast Cancer/African Americans



NFTC: Family History in Breast Cancer/African Americans

TRT:

February 2007

Komen: Dr. Dwight Randle

Expert: Dr. David Euhus – UTSW

Updated 04/03/07

PKG:

VO: 02:11:49

Video: Annie in home

PATIENT BITE

Super:

Annie McKenzie

28-Year Survivor

VO: 02:12:39

VIDEO: Dr. Euhus working

DR. BITE

Super:

David Euhus, M.D.

Assoc. Professor/Department of Surgery

UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

VO: 02:10:14

Video: Annie making tea

STANDUP

Super:

Dr. Vladimir Lange

News for the Cure

VO

KOMEN BITE

Super:

Dwight Randle Ph D

Sr. Clinical Advisor

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

TAG

Suggested Station Graphics:

National Cancer Institute

1-800-4-CANCER

National Society of Genetic Counselors

1- 312-321-6834.

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ANCHOR INTRO:

Did you know that while African American women have a lower incidence of breast cancer they have a higher risk of dying from the deadly disease?

Here with more on how family history and a host of other factors may play a role in developing breast cancer is News for the Cure’s Dr. Vladimir Lange.

PKG:

61-year old Annie McKenzie of Garland, Texas has something in common with a number of African American women – she developed premenopausal breast cancer…it’s a cancer that runs in her family.

“I WAS DIAGNOSED IN 1979, I WAS IN MY EARLY 30’S AND I HAD A MODIFIED RADICAL MASTECTOMY IN 1980. THEY THOUGHT AT THAT TIME IT WAS A FAMILY THING BECAUSE I WAS THE FIRST PERSON, MY OLDEST SISTER WAS THE NEXT, AND THEN MY YOUNGER SISTER.”

Dr. David Euhus (oy-hoos) from U.T. Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas says genetics very well may have played a part in Annie’s cancer.

“GENETICS IS ONE OF THE MOST POTENT RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER DEPENDING ON WHO WERE THE RELATIVES THAT HAD BREAST CANCER AND HOW OLD THEY WERE WHEN THE DEVELOPED BREAST CANCER.”

Despite Annie’s family history of the disease, the fact of the matter remains all women are at risk for developing breast cancer. The two most significant risk factors for developing the disease are being female and getting older. The majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no other known risk factors and appear to be random.

:15 STANDUP – VLADIMIR (HAVE HIM WALK OUT OF SHOT AT END): However, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer among African American women is 73 percent compared to 88 percent for Caucasian women. How can that difference be explained?

Some researchers theorize that the difference in survival rates may be due to biologic and genetic differences in tumors, the presence of risk factors, barriers to health care access, health behaviors, late stage of disease & diagnosis, and overall health of the patient.

“AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE A LOWER INCIDENCE OF BREAST CANCER HOWEVER THEY HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF DYING FROM THE DISEASE. THAT’S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL WOMEN PARTICULARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN TO DO ROUTINE MAMMOGRAPHY SCREENING, DO THE MONTHLY BREAST SELF-EXAM, AND GET TRAINED PROPERLY HOW TO DO THAT AND AT SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE IS VERY ACTIVE IN PROVIDING JUST SUCH INFORMATION FOR WOMEN ALL OVER.”

And living life to the fullest is one thing Annie plans on doing for a long time to come. With News for the Cure, I’m Dr. Vladimir Lange.

ANCHOR TAG:

If you are interested in genetic testing for an inherited breast cancer gene, it is recommended that you talk with your doctor who can refer you to a reputable testing site and a genetic counselor. For information regarding genetic counseling, contact the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-CANCER or the National Society of Genetic Counselors at 312.321.6834.

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