A lot of people aren’t aware of the risks of breast cancer and I think that really shocked me. Everybody has breast tissue so everybody should be checking.”
Gabriella and Joel both tested positive for the BRCA gene mutation in their teens. We all have genes that protect us against breast cancer. BRCA gene mutations mean one of those genes is faulty. That means it can’t repair any DNA damage caused by cancer, and the cancer can grow.
Having the BRCA gene mutation doesn’t mean you have breast cancer, but it does mean your risk of getting breast cancer is much higher. Fewer than 1 in 100 breast cancers are caused by a mutation of the BRCA gene. If you have a BRCA gene mutation, your risk of getting breast cancer is between 50% – 90% higher than someone without the mutation.
