The genetics of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women. It does not affect all women the same. Less black women get a diagnosis of breast cancer than white women. But, more black women die from breast cancer. Many things may cause this imbalance. Money and access to care may be one cause. Differences in how the cancer looks or behaves also play a part. Genetic risk may also be a factor. For example, changes in certain genes may increase your risk for breast cancer. Scientists think there is a link between a new gene change and risk for breast cancer. Researchers at Vanderbilt will use BioVU to look for that link. They will look for this gene change in women with and without breast cancer. They think that women with breast cancer are more likely to have the gene change. They will separate black and white women. This gene change is more common in white women. By separating the two groups, they can better see the effect of the gene change on breast cancer. The results of this study will help us learn more about the genetic risks for breast cancer. People at higher risk should check for cancer more often. This will help women who may develop cancer catch it early. The sooner we find the cancer, the better we can treat it. The goal is to improve breast cancer screening for everyone.