In addition to breast cancer, mutations in the BRCA1 gene also increase the risk of ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. The BRCA1 gene is located on chromosome 17q21 -- the long (q) arm of chromosome 17 at position 21.The symbol BRCA stands for BReast CAncer.any are associated with an increased risk of cancer. These mutations can be changes in one or a small number of DNA base pairs, or, in some cases, large rearrangements of DNA. A mutated BRCA1 gene usually makes a protein that does not function properly because it is abnormally short.
Lymph nodes and what they do. Lymph vessels route lymph fluid through nodes throughout the body. Lymph nodes are small structures that work as filters for harmful substances. They contain immune cells that can help fight infection by attacking and destroying germs that are carried in through the lymph fluid. There are hundreds of lymph nodes throughout the body. Each lymph node filters the fluid and substances picked up by the vessels that lead to it. Lymph fluid from the fingers, for instance, works its way toward the chest, joining fluid from the arm.
The lymphatic system also helps defend the body against germs like viruses, bacteria, and fungi that can cause illnesses. Those germs are filtered out in the lymph nodes, which are small masses of tissue located along the network of lymph vessels. The nodes house lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.