Blog & Cancer Awareness

It’s not fate — it’s information: genetic risk for breast & ovarian cancer

Most breast and ovarian cancers happen by chance and are not inherited. But in roughly 5–10% of cases, the cancer is linked to an inherited gene change — most often in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes (and others such as PALB2). Carrying one of these changes does not mean you will definitely get cancer; it means your risk is higher, and that you and your doctor can do something about it early.

Family-history red flags worth discussing with a doctor:

• Several close relatives with breast or ovarian cancer
• Breast cancer diagnosed before age 50
• Breast cancer in a male relative
• A relative with a known BRCA (or related) mutation
• Triple-negative breast cancer in the family, or Ashkenazi Jewish heritage

What genetic testing actually tells you: whether you carry a gene change that raises risk. It is information to guide screening and prevention — not a diagnosis, and not a verdict. If a test is positive, your oncologist and a genetic counsellor can discuss options such as earlier or additional screening (for example, breast MRI), risk-reducing strategies, and how to inform relatives who may also wish to be tested.

The takeaway is hopeful: knowing your risk turns fear into a plan. If your family history raises any of the flags above, it is worth a conversation.

A carcinogen-free Diwali: celebrate bright, breathe clean

Festivals are for joy — and a little awareness lets everyone enjoy them safely. Some of what we burn during the season releases known irritants and carcinogens into the air we share:

• Firecrackers release benzene — a recognised carcinogen associated with blood cancers.
• Incense, dhoop and some candles emit formaldehyde and other pollutants that can irritate the lungs and throat.
• These compounds add to the cumulative “toxic load” we all breathe, indoors especially.

One evening will not cause cancer — but reducing smoke protects the people most at risk: children, the elderly, those with asthma, and patients undergoing treatment. A few simple swaps help: favour diyas and lights over heavy smoke, ventilate indoor spaces, limit firecrackers, choose cleaner candles and incense, and step out for fresh air. Light, not smoke.

More awareness from @curewithhope

Short, myth-busting reels on the questions families ask most.