Breast cancer is a very scary and very real reality for my family. My grandmother, Eleanor Cosgrove, died of breast cancer at the age of 76 after battling the horrible disease for 20 years. I only have faint memories of my grandmother for I was only five-years-old when she passed away, but she was a beautiful woman inside and out. She positively impacted every life she touched and brought a light to the world that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.

Breast cancer impacts so many families and takes away so many loved ones. As someone who had a relative pass away from breast cancer, I have done a lot of research on genetic testing and gene mutations that increase risk of breast cancer. In fact, my high school senior research project was on this very topic. Through my studies, I have concluded that it is pivotal for women to receive testing for gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer. Especially for women who have a strong family history of breast cancer, gene mutation testing can be life-saving.

BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 are genes that when mutated can increase a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer. BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 are responsible for producing tumor suppressor proteins. When a woman has a BRCA 1 gene mutation, she has a 55 to 65 percent chance of developing breast cancer before the age of 70. When a woman has a BRCA 2 gene mutation, she has a 45 percent chance of developing breast cancer by the age of 70.

If a woman discovers that she has a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutation through genetic testing, there are many preventive steps that can then be taken to avoid development of the disease. The woman can choose to get more intensive and more frequent mammograms or choose to get a mastectomy. In fact, Angelina Jolie received a preventative double mastectomy when she discovered she had a mutated BRCA 1 gene. Ultimately, the identification of BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutations would allow women to take the preventative steps necessary to eliminate the chances of developing breast cancer.

Dr. Mary-Claire King said it best: “To identify a woman as a carrier only after she develops cancer is a failure in cancer prevention.”

Early identification of a mutation could save lives and money. Someone with a gene mutation doesn’t have to do something as radical as a preventative mastectomy. However, more frequent mammograms could spot breast cancer in its early stages. Additionally, it is more expensive to receive treatment for breast cancer than it is to receive a mastectomy or more frequent mammograms.

In a study conducted by Dr. Mary-Claire King, she concluded that about half of carriers are failing to be identified. If you or a loved one has a family history of breast cancer, go get tested for a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutation. I plan to get genetically tested once I turn 20.