Do Latinas Have a Lower Risk of Breast Cancer?
New studies have been shown to indicate a new phenomenon in breast cancer. Hispanic females were found to have a genetic variant that lowered the risk of breast cancer in these females. Women who carry this gene were found to have less dense breast tissue than the average female. Dense tissue is a common characteristic found in those that are at a high risk for breast cancer. Dr. Elad Ziv, a research scientist conducting studies on this particular topic,also concluded that behavioral factors reduce the risk for breast cancer. These women are less likely to to utilize postmenopausal hormones. Genetic factors also play a large part in the level of risk of breast cancer. Chromosome six was found to have a specific protective variant , also known as a SNP, and the frequency at which it occured was monitored. Women who were shown to have a higher prevalence of the SNP also had a lower risk of the cancer.
If this type of genetic variant was identified and reproduced, it can be possible to reduce the risk of cancer in those of other nationalities. Dr. Ziv's research has provided revolutionary new findings in the search for a cure for cancer. If the density of tissue can be altered this could lower the risk of breast cancer nationwide.
Primary Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/20/genetic-variant-may-shield-latinas-from-breast-cancer/
Secondary Source: http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119591/genetic-variant-protects-some-latina-women-breast-cancer
This gene variant sounds interesting. I hope that researchers can use this research to further research and maybe help to unlock a cure for this horrible disease.
ReplyDeleteI hope this article applies to majority of Hispanic women when it come to breast cancer. The reason this blog interested me is because my grandmother had breast cancer and she is Hispanic. I think it the density of breast tissue is a very interesting point to look into.
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