Onco Life Center Media Article 12
Know Your Risks.
EMPOWERED, the cancer advocacy society of Malaysia launched its first ever hereditary Brest and ovarian cancer HBOC campaign at a paradigm mall in the battalion Jaya, Selangor recently bearing the theme of check your genes, tight cancer the community outreach program aimed to raise the awareness above HBOC and recognize Malaysia who have been affected by hereditary Breast ovary and related cancer.
Including women and men MRCA Mutation and individual with a family history of cancer.
Hereditary cancer account for 5 -10% of all cancers and due to mutated cancer suspectitbility genes such as BRCM mutation.
People with a BRCAI or BRCAZ mutation faces a higher risk of developing best and ovarian cancer by age 70 than women in a general population.
People are cancer likely to have a MRCAI or MRCAZ mutation if they or their close relative of either mother and father's side of the family has had a breast cancer before the age of 40, triple negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer or cancer in both breasts, breast cancer in a male relative or multiple relative with breast pancreatic or pro reactive cancer.
Through a thorough evaluation of a family cancer history, patients and family at increased risk for an HBOC can be identified and referred for genetic counselling and testing. Their help care specialist can help them make informed decisions about an operation for cancer risk reduction.
According to empowered president ad consulting medical consultant Dr. Chiristiana Ng van I.e.
Through awareness and education Malaysian who carry a positive BRCA or other gene mutation, or have an important history of cancer, can be more pro-active about lowering their cancer risks and can take bold steps towards minimizing the impact of hereditary cancer.
Empowered’s HBOC campaign 2016 aims to raise awareness about the pertinent fact about HBOC and impact Malaysian lives.
The campaign impaired a diverse array of creative learning experience and medical answers to the Malaysian people.
Paradigm Mall shopper was greeted by celebrity ambassador appearance as they journeyed between numerous learning booth’s that were decked with family games and prizes.
The HBOC campaign face and hair specialist, as well as event mascot brought much holiday cheer to eager participants.
Empowered’s team of genetic counselors, doctors and medical students personalized the educational experiences for the member of the public who were eager to embrace bold steps towards a healthier future.
Dr, Ng said, Empowered i.e. Battles local and international efforts to ensure a better future for the next generation with continued work to improve medical options, accelerate research and make new therapies available to patients facing hereditary breast, ovarian and related concerns.
She added, Empowered is deeply grateful to local donor who have generously contributed to the HBOC campaign cause to positively impact Malaysian lives.
The learning booth message of Empowered’s HBOC campaign 2016
Booth 1: Introduction to HBOC
This booth provided an introduction to what cells and genes are.
Education, explained how cells become cancerous, the importance of genes and how they contribute to cancer development.
HBOC and the responsible genes, namely HBOC 1 and 2 were also covered in the booths.
Booth 2: who can be affected with HBOC?
This booth explained who is at high risk of HBOC.
Educators explained that both men and women can inherit a faulty BRCA.
Red flags for HBOC were also also covered in this booth.
Booth 3: How are mutated BRCA genes inherited?
This booth illustrated the mode of inheritance of faulty HBOC genes.
When a parent is a carrier of a faulty BRCA gene, each pregnancy will have a random 50% chance of passing on the family genes to the child.
Booth 4: At what age might a person with a mutated BRCA gene get cancer?
This booth illustrated the lifetime risk of developing cancer when a person inherits a faulty BRCA gene from his or her parent.
Although a faulty BRCA gene confers an increased risk of developing cancer, it is, nevertheless, not 100%.
Booth 5: Which organs can be affected by cancer in mutated BRCA carriers?
This booth educated people about the related cancers caused by faulty BRCA genes.
Educators illustrated the different organs (affected by faulty BRCA genes) and where these organs are located in the body.
Booth 6: Why is it important to know about our risk of hereditary cancers?
Educators shared the Angelina Jolie story – how she discovered her high risk of developing HBOC, and what she did to reduce her cancer risk.
Booth 7: what can I do if I have a high risk of HBOC
This booth covered the screening and preventative measures that are available to individuals who have a high risk of developing HBOC.
Early detection saves lives.
Booth 8: Learning about breast self-examination
Doctors took groups of women on enlightening tutorials about breast self-examination.
Booth 9: Drawing your family tree
This booth focused on helping people draw their family pedigree. Genetic specialists addressed one family at a time. The family pedigree serves as a future reference for hereditary cancer risk assessment for each individual.
Booth 10: Hereditary cancer risk assessment
The genetic counselors used the family pedigree and additional medical information to determine the individual’s risk of developing HBOC and if genetic testing is recommended for those individuals.
Empowered, The Cancer Advocacy Society of Malaysia, is a non-profit non-governmental tax-exempt organization. It was founded in 2009 by Dr Christina Ng Van Tze to prevent cancer, save lives and eliminate suffering amongst the poor. For more information about Empowered, log on to www.empowered.org.my or follow at facebook.com/Empowered MY.
