Who is at risk for hereditary breast cancer?

Women who have a grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew with breast cancer after age 50 have an average risk, while many relatives with the disease under age 45 are at high risk.

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Women whose mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer at a young age (premenopausal) have twice the risk of developing malignant breast tumors as women with no family history of the disease.

The level of risk in women depends on which family member has breast cancer.

Women who have a second-degree relative (grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew) diagnosed with breast cancer after age 50 have an average risk. If you have one or two first-degree relatives (father, mother, sibling, child) or two second-degree relatives diagnosed with the disease after age 50, you have a moderate risk of developing malignant breast cancer.

People who have one or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with the disease at age 45 or younger have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Women who have one or more first- or second-degree relatives with triple-negative breast cancer at age 60 or younger are at increased risk.

If you have one or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with cancer in both breasts, you are at high risk.

Women who have one or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with male breast cancer are at increased risk of developing malignant breast tumors.

Having a younger relative (premenopausal or under 50) with breast cancer or prostate cancer increases your risk of developing malignant breast tumors more than having an older relative with these diseases.

Mammography to diagnose breast cancer at Tam Anh General Hospital. Illustration photo: Provided by the hospital — Breast cancer screening mammography at Tam Anh General Hospital. Illustration photo: *Provided by the hospital*

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, genetic testing can help detect breast cancer genes in people with a family history of the disease. With new genetic testing techniques, breast cancer genes can be identified before the disease develops. There are more than 70 gene mutations associated with breast cancer, the most common being BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

Women at high risk should have regular mammograms to screen for breast cancer.

Mai Cat (According to Very Well Health )

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