Preventive Medicine

Preventative medicine aids to diagnose diseases before they create the pathology in the body. The method performed at this point is, making a patient’s specific risk assessments. The main reason of preferring risk assessment is because it is performed by considering patient’s genetic background, so that a very detailed and comprehensive information about the patient. After a patient specific risk assessment adequate to the patient’s genetic structure, the best available check up is chosen. We can summarize preventive medicine as creating health ID for the patient and then we can realize personal medicine by specific check-up and treatments of that patient.

Ovarian Cancer

Effects of hereditary factors can be seen in 10% percent of ovarian cancer cases. The frequency of occurrence of this disease increases in breast cancer patients. Mutations in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes are effective in ovarian cancer as it is also effective in breast cancer. Because it doesn’t have many pre symptoms, it is hard to diagnose this disease early. For this reason, regular controls for early diagnosis should not be disrupted. If symptoms like stomachache, tumescence or poor appetite, pelvic and rectovaginal controls must be made.

Who Should Have Genetic Testing for Ovarian Cancer?

• Those who have a background of this disease in their family

• Those who have diagnosed with breast cancer

• Those who have a background of breast cancer in their family

• Those who have a background of mutations in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes in their family

 is one of the most frequently seen cancer type in the world. Just like breast cancer, colon cancer also shows familial and genetic transition tendency. Approximately 10% of the cases are based on hereditary causes.

A test named KRAS is used commonly to those who have this disease. KRAS produces KRAS proteins in the oncogenic cell and this protein supports cell division by giving signals for cell division during cell cycle.  But a problem on this protein causes constant cell division and some of colon cancer cases occur because of this situation. By KRAS testing patients who can get benefit from the treatment can be determined and the treatment process continues according to the test results. With personal treatment processes, life spans of patients even at the last stages of the diseases have increased.

Who Should Have Genetic Testing for Colon Cancer?

• Those who have diagnosed with colon cancer before the age 45.

• Those whose family has more than 1 person diagnosed with colon cancer before 55 years old.

• Those whose family has at least 3 people diagnosed with colon cancer at any age