Breast cancer

Ask our experts your questions about all aspects of cancer.

Moderator: talkhealth

Locked
2 posts
User avatar
Nurse Kim Hardwick
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:45 pm
Quote

by Nurse Kim Hardwick on Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:52 pm

Re: Breast cancer

Hi Patty
It's normal to feel worried about your own risk after a close family member has had cancer. However very few cancers (only 5-10%) are the result of an inherited faulty gene being passed down from parent to child.

A genetic change (mutation) that increases the risk of breast cancer is only likely to be present in a family if there:
- are three close relatives on the same side of the family who developed breast cancer at any age
- are two close relatives on the same side of the family who developed breast cancer under the age of 60
- is one close relative who developed breast cancer under the age of 40
- is a close male relative with breast cancer
- is a close relative with breast cancer in both breasts
- is a close relative with breast cancer and another on the same side of the family with ovarian cancer.
(Close relatives, sometimes called your first degree relatives, are parents, children, sisters and brothers.)

So your mother being diagnosed with breast cancer at 50 years of age on its own would not suggest the presence of a faulty gene - and you should carry on with your breast screening. But the most important thing for all women at any age is to be breast aware. Most breast cancers are still picked by women themselves - so know what your breasts normally feel like so you can detect changes early and report them to your GP promptly.
I hope that helps Patty.
Best wishes
Nurse Kim Hardwick
Senior Cancer Information Nurse RGN, BAppSci-Nursing - Macmillan Cancer Support

Locked
2 posts