BRCA and family risk
When breast cancer runs in the family and what the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 have to do with it.
Only about 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancer cases are actually hereditary. In roughly one in five of those affected, there is a family cluster without a clear genetic defect being present. The single biggest risk factor remains age, not family history.
The best known hereditary causes are changes in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes normally protect against cancer. If one of them is altered, the lifetime risk of breast cancer rises to about 60 to 80 percent, and the risk of ovarian cancer is elevated as well.
You should pay closer attention if several women, or even men, among your blood relatives have had breast or ovarian cancer, especially at a young age. In that case, it is worth having a conversation about genetic counseling. When a genetic test makes sense
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This content is for information only and does not replace medical advice.