Marta , 38, was diagnosed with breast cancer . Her mother had it at 45, and a maternal aunt had it as well. From the beginning, her biggest concern was the same as that of many people in her situation: “What if my daughters go through this too?”
Her oncologist recommended she go to the Hereditary Cancer and Genetic Counseling Unit at Nexus Oncology .
In the first consultation, the team reviewed her medical history and developed a detailed three-generation family tree. The pattern suggested a possible hereditary predisposition , so she was advised to perform a breast-ovarian genetic panel , through a blood test.
The result confirmed an inherited mutation in a high-risk gene (BRCA1) . From there, a plan was activated:
- Marta received a clear explanation of what the mutation meant for her: treatment options, risk reduction measures, and long-term follow-up protocols.
- Her two sisters underwent the same genetic study; one of them also turned out to be a carrier. For both, an intensive screening program was designed with annual breast MRIs and periodic check-ups.
- The other sister, who tested negative, was able to learn that her risk was no greater than that of the general population, which brought her great peace of mind.
Over time, one of the checkups of her sister, the carrier, detected a small tumor in a very early stage, which could be treated with an excellent prognosis.
“What helped me most was not just knowing we had a mutation, but that someone explained to us what to do with that information. Now we feel like we’re not living with a vague threat, but with a clear plan.”
Stories like Marta’s and her family’s summarize Nexus Oncology ‘s mission in hereditary cancer: transforming uncertainty into knowledge and fear into prevention.
