Women who have a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer have double the risk of developing breast cancer. And having two first-degree relatives gives her five times the risk of someone with no family history of the disease.
Statistics can be confusing, though; while 20 to 30 percent of women with breast cancer have a family member with the disease, 70 to 80 percent of those with breast cancer had no family history to alert them.
A genetic history of the disease is also important. Studies show that between 5 and 10 percent of breast cancer cases are hereditary. Those women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which seem to run in families, have an 80 percent chance of getting breast cancer during their lifetime.
Jews of Eastern European descent are most likely to carry the BRCA mutations, but they also occur in women from Hispanic, African American, and European origins. A number of less well-known genes, including the ATM, CHEK2, and p53 genes, also increase the risk of breast cancer.
Why did you not mention the increased risk due to use of oral contraceptives? One of the deadliest forms of breast cancer, triple negative BRCA is linked to that. Also why did you not mention the increased risk caused by abortion? There are a multitude of studies on this which were suppressed in 2003 by the NCI. Dr. Swinton in January of 2009, reversed her position on the abortion-breast cancer link and now states there is a link.
My mom and sister both have had breast cancer.My mom twice .My sister going through it for second time. If I had known this eleven years ago I would have gotten tested for breast cancer. I myself went through breast cancer once. My doctor told me Ii won't come back after so long. How can she say fhat? I'm not sure on how long between moms that it came back, but my sister had hers the same time as me and now it is back. What are the chances of this happening ? Thank you for letting us know these helpful, interesting and very informing articles.
i did not have my first mamagram till i was 48 or 49 years old n the drs thought they seen something they have me come in every 6 months for checkups on it
All the informatiom very informative!
Thank you
My maternal grandmother died from cancer of the liver. A doctor said it was secondary cancer, which began from breast cancer. My mother died at the age of 82 years, but did NOT have either cancer of the breast or liver. I am now 64, and my daughter is 41, but neither of us have shown any signs of either cancer. What risk do we stand?