health & wellness

THE COLTON CENTER

FOR FACIAL COSMETIC SURGERY

Genetic Risks

* AUGUST EVENT

Specialist discusses Ashkenazi
genetic link to breast cancer.

"SECOND LOOK" FREE

WITH DREAMLIFT° PROCEDURE*

Before DreamLift®

After DreamLift®

DREAMLIFT°

"TURN BACK THE CLOCK AND LIVE VIBRANTLY AGAIN"

Speaker Dr. Dana Zakalik is flanked by Maimonides Society co-chairs Dr. Joel
Kahn and Dr. Renee Horowitz.

FACE AND NECK REJUVENATION

I

Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer

T

Before Second Look®

After Second Look®

SECOND LOOK°

"Age should be a number, not a look"

EYELID LIFT PROCEDURE

*Call for details

Jeffrey Colton MD, FACS
Lamont R. Jones, MD

Certified American Board of
Facial Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery

NOSE RESHAPING • FAT TRANSFER • LASER
FACIAL RESURFACING • LASER HAIR REMOVAL
BOTOX • INJECTABLE FILLERS

www.coltoncenter.com

248-785-6600

Lewis Medical Center
39475 Lewis Drive, Suite 175
Novi, MI 48377

CARE CREDIT ACCEPTED

106 August 29 • 2013

1822940

he Jewish gene pool has cre-
ated some illustrious descen-
dants, many of whom have
produced scientific breakthroughs,
important works of literature and
art, hit Broadway musicals and some
of the best chicken soup to grace
a spoon. Unfortunately, this same
genetic make-up also includes a high
incidence of a certain genetic muta-
tion that significantly increases the
risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Hereditary alteration of two genes,
known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, affects
approximately one out of every
40 Ashkenazi (Central or Eastern
European descent) Jews, while the
incidence in the general population is
one in 300.
A presentation about the Jewish
gene pool and its effect on cancer
risks was made by Dr. Dana Zakalik,
director of the Cancer Genetics
Program at William Beaumont
Hospital in Royal Oak, in late July
at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
The event was sponsored by the
Maimonides Society of Southeastern
Michigan and Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
Co-chairs of the program and the
local Maimonides Society chapter, Dr.
Renee Horowitz and Dr. Joel Kahn,
introduced the speaker to the audi-
ence, which included more than 100
community members and medical
professionals.
Zakalik said the increasing role of

genetics has had a positive impact on
cancer research and treatment, allow-
ing more accurate risk assessment
and increasing risk-based interven-
tion and early detection.
She explained that most cancers,
70-75 percent, are sporadic (ran-
domly occurring), about 5-10 percent
are caused by genetic mutations, and
another 15-20 percent are attributed
to a combination of genetic and envi-
ronmental factors. Mutated BRCA1
and BRCA2 genes increase the risk
of breast and ovarian cancer about
10 times more than any other factor,
according to Zakalik.
"There may be other genes
involved, but some are as yet undis-
covered:' she said, adding that prog-
nosis is the same regardless of wheth-
er the cancer is inherited or sporadic.
Warning signs that a genetic com-
ponent may be present include two
or more cases of cancer on the same
side of the family, male breast cancer,
early onset (before age 50) cancer,
multiple primary tumors or a con-
stellation of cancers, such as breast
and ovarian, occurring in the same
patient.
Zakalik recommended genetic
counseling for those who think they
may be at risk for BRCA mutations
to help determine whether testing
or other screening should be done.
Knowing whether a genetic risk exists
can help patients and physicians
make informed decisions about which
treatment or surveillance plans are
most appropriate.
"BRCA mutation carriers have spe-