RARE TYPE OF BREAST CANCER, OVARIAN CANCER TO BE DISCUSSED OCT. 10 IN HARLINGEN

Dr. Marco Araneda to Speak at Free “Women’s Health Matters” Event Thursday, Oct. 10 at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen

HARLINGEN – Dr. Marco Araneda, Oncologist, will speak on “Hereditary Breast Ovarian Cancer Syndrome” during a free “Women’s Health Matters” event on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Valley Baptist Medical Center, 2101 Pease Street in Harlingen (on the first floor of the hospital, South Tower entrance, in the Woodward Conference Center).

Breast cancer will affect about 1 in 8 women during the course of their lifetimes, but a group of women is more susceptible to both breast and ovarian cancers, among other cancers. Those women who have a mutation of breast cancer gene 1 or 2 (BRCA1 and BRCA2) have an inherited increased likelihood to suffer from one of these cancers, a syndrome referred to as Hereditary Breast Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC). These genes suppress tumors, so when they are mutated, the likelihood of cancer increases.

While no more than 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer is caused by this syndrome, the risk may be as high as 80 percent for a member of a family with BRCA mutations. A family history of an early onset of breast cancer (often before age 50), or a family member with both breast and ovarian cancer, are two examples of characteristics of Hereditary Breast Ovarian Cancer Syndrome.

Dr. Araneda’s presentation is being held as part of the Valley Baptist “Women’s Health Matters” series. The public is invited to join Dr. Araneda to find out more about this important topic. Participants are invited to enjoy a complimentary healthy dessert and to ask the doctor questions. For more information or to RSVP, please call 1-888-902-5433.