{"id":4606,"date":"2023-07-31T17:41:37","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T17:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.geneticsupportfoundation.org\/?p=4606"},"modified":"2023-07-31T17:41:40","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T17:41:40","slug":"brca2-on-the-today-show-jill-martins-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.geneticsupportfoundation.org\/index.php\/2023\/07\/31\/brca2-on-the-today-show-jill-martins-story\/","title":{"rendered":"BRCA2 on the TODAY Show: Jill Martin\u2019s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photo credit Jill Martin Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A couple weeks ago, I received a message in a group text chat with friends and patient advocates. Janet wrote, \u201cJill Martin is sharing our message of inheriting mutations from our fathers!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her sister Eileen shared, \u201cI just watched it. It really touches home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jill Martin, lifestyle contributor of the TODAY show, shared<\/a> that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer after learning that she had inherited a mutation in the BRCA2<\/em> gene from her father. It was a powerful interview, especially because Jill is really in the thick of it, just recently having been diagnosed with breast cancer with plans for an upcoming mastectomy. I was moved by her courage to share her story with her colleagues and the world through the TODAY show. Similarly to how I felt when Janet and Eileen courageously shared their BRCA2<\/em> stories<\/a>\u00a0 when they were in the thick of it, going through breast cancer together and learning that they had inherited a BRCA2<\/em><\/a> mutation from their father.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It isn\u2019t new information that genetic mutations related to breast and other cancers can be passed on from both sides of the family. Unfortunately, it is still not widely known that this is the case leading many people, and even many healthcare providers, to underappreciate the importance of paternal side of the family in assessing cancer risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jill felt she had an opportunity to share her story with the hopes that it could help others prevent cancer. She recognized that many are unaware of the possible genetic risk of cancer, especially when passed on from their father\u2019s side of the family.\u00a0 During the interview she said, \u201cLet me just be clear, my mother had breast cancer. She tested negative for the BRCA gene.\u00a0 They asked, \u2018has your dad been tested?\u2019\u00a0 I said breast cancer does not run in my father\u2019s family. They said, \u2018get tested anyways.\u2019 I am positive. My father is positive. I always associated this with something that women got.\u00a0 And so many people I have spoken to say, \u2018I didn\u2019t know this is something that men should be tested for.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jill encouraged all people to get genetic testing. In an essay she wrote<\/a>, she says, \u201cI am talking about this not to scare you, but to raise awareness so that maybe you can be tested and identify a BRCA or other genetic mutation earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should everyone get genetic testing of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current clinical guidelines<\/a> only recommend genetic testing of the BRCA1, BRCA2<\/em> and other genes when there is a specific personal or family history of cancer.  However, there has been significant debate for many years about whether testing for all people as part of routine cancer risk assessment, should be considered. The pro side of this debate says that some people have a small family or may not know their family health history and an important cancer risk factor may be missed. Those opposed to general population screening are concerned that testing everyone may lead to more false positive results or overestimating cancer risks that could lead to unnecessary interventions that could cause more harm than good.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, even with guidelines of who should have access to testing, we know we are not reaching all of the people who meet these guidelines and could benefit. Recent studies<\/a> show that only a fraction of people who qualify for testing based on current criteria are actually offered testing.\u00a0 And we also see tremendous disparities in who is offered testing with Black, Asian, Hispanic and older patients being less likely to be offered and undergo genetic testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should you get genetic testing for the BRCA genes?\u00a0 The following may help you sort through this question:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n