New breast cancer clinic a lifeline for those with BRCA1 gene

An innovative Queensland-first clinic has launched to help predict the chances of a diagnosis in those who are at high risk of a certain hereditary cancer.

New clinic a boost for those with familial cancer risk Picture: iStock

AN INNOVATIVE Queensland-first clinic has launched at the Princess Alexandra Hospital to predict the chances of a diagnosis in those who are at high risk of familial breast cancer.

The Preventative High Risk Familial Breast Cancer Clinic will provide intervention before cancer develops in those with the BRCA1 gene mutation.

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The potential for early intervention could prevent mastectomies in some cases.

Women with a BRCA mutation have a 40 to 80 per cent chance of breast cancer in her lifetime and a 20 to 60 per cent chance of ovarian cancer.

The average Australian woman has between a 10 and 15 per cent lifetime chance of having breast cancer.

The clinic, which forms part of Metro South Health’s new Breast Cancer Institute, harnesses the research of Translational Research Institute’s Professor Carolyn Mountford in the area of MR spectroscopy that helps predate and predict the development of cancer.

Professor Ian Bennett with patient Tahnee Brown

PA Hospital director of breast and endocrine surgery Professor Ian Bennett said the clinic was the first of its kind in the state, and would offer more comprehensive care for those at risk.

Patients at three public hospitals, the PA, QEII and Redlands, will benefit from the co-ordinated and uniform treatment.

The clinic’s uniqueness lies in the provision of a virtual clinic with multidisciplinary planning that pulls together expertise from surgeons, plastic surgeons, oncologists, radiology research, and geneticists from across the three hospitals.

“This means that high risk familial breast cancer patients are receiving the benefits of MR spectroscopy without delay, their biochemistry is monitored with equipment that is accessed by researchers as well as clinicians and our team can intervene with surgical solutions when precancerous changes are detected,” Prof Bennett said.

Teacher Tahnee Brown from Kuraby has benefited from early detection of precancerous changes through the clinic, after it was found she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation.

“My father died from cancer as a direct result of the BRCA1 gene and for a long time I was in denial about getting tested,” the 39-year-old said.

Ms Brown had predictive warning signs of cancer and went on to have a double mastectomy and plans to have her ovaries removed.

“I have access to so many specialists who are looking out for warning signs,” she said.