Commonly asked questions for a Breast Cancer specialist, Dr. Swapna Ghanta.
Is Breast Cancer genetic? Watch this video to find out!
Swapna Ghanta, M.D., is a general surgeon and specializing in breast surgery. She attended the New Jersey Medical School at Rutgers University. She completed her general surgery residency at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and a research fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York studying lymphatic biology and lymphedema during which time she presented her research at several national meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. She also has completed a clinical fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the University of Miami in Florida where she became proficient in advanced breast techniques including partial breast reconstruction, oncoplastic lumpectomies and S-LYMPHA, an innovative procedure which drastically reduces post axillary dissection lymphedema. Dr. Ghanta’s clinical interests are axillary management, lymphedema, high risk patients and the management of locally advanced breast cancer.
So, in certain families, breast cancer might be related to genes that you inherited that might put you at higher risk for developing breast and other cancers. The most famous example of these genes is called BRCA, which many people are aware because of Angelina Jolie. And these genes make it much more likely, but not 100% certain that you will develop breast cancer. So, for patients that have a much higher risk, they may choose to have more radical treatments, such as having both breasts removed to help prevent development of breast cancer. To better understand your risk, and if you have many members of your family that have developed cancer, you might be recommended to have genetic testing to test for these genes, as well as others that we know are related to development of cancer.
