If breast cancer runs in your family, it’s understandable to wonder what that could mean for your own health. You may even worry that a future diagnosis is inevitable. But having a family history does not mean you will develop breast cancer, and many women who are diagnosed have no family history of the disease at all. In fact, approximately only 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are associated with a family history.
Understanding your personal risk can help you take a more proactive approach to your breast health. In this article, we’ll explain how factors like family history and genetics can influence breast cancer risk, how healthcare providers assess that risk, and the steps you can take to stay informed and proactive about screening.
Knowing your family’s health history can give you valuable insight into your own breast cancer risk. Having a relative who has been diagnosed with breast cancer can increase your risk, particularly when the diagnosis involves a close family member.
Your relationship to the affected relative also matters. In general, having a first-degree relative, such as a mother, sister, or daughter, with breast cancer may have a greater impact on your risk than having a more distant relative with the disease.
Still, having a family history of breast cancer does not mean that you will develop it. Instead, knowing your family history can help you and your healthcare provider make more informed decisions about your breast health. Depending on your individual risk factors, your provider may recommend additional risk assessment, genetic counseling, earlier screening, or additional screening options.
Knowing your family health history can help you better understand your personal risk for breast cancer. It can also give you and your healthcare provider important information when deciding whether earlier, more frequent, or additional screening may be appropriate.
Some important family health history details to know include:
You do not need to have every detail before talking with your healthcare provider. Even an incomplete family history can provide helpful context and may guide conversations about your individual risk, genetic counseling, or the type and timing of breast cancer screening that may be right for you.
Think of your genes like the instruction manual for your cells. While normal genes stop cells from growing out of control, a harmful mutation means that your risk of developing cancer increases. Genetic testing for breast cancer is done by checking a saliva or blood sample for inherited gene changes (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2). Possible test results may include:
A positive genetic test result can mean you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, but it does not mean a diagnosis is certain. Your healthcare provider may use a breast cancer risk assessment tool along with your personal and family health history to better understand your overall risk.
Based on that information, your provider can help determine which screening options may be appropriate for you, how often you should be screened, and whether screening should begin earlier than standard recommendations.
There are several types of genetic mutations that can lead to breast cancer. They include:
This is not an inclusive list of genetic mutations. Depending on your results, your primary care provider may recommend starting screenings for breast cancer at an earlier age or undergoing high-sensitivity imaging tests (such as MRIs) alongside standard mammograms.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that normally help protect the body from cancer by repairing damaged DNA and helping prevent cells from growing uncontrollably. Everyone has these genes, but certain inherited harmful changes, or mutations, in BRCA1 or BRCA2 can significantly increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
Women who inherit a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a much higher lifetime risk of breast cancer than women in the general population. More than 60% of women with a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation are estimated to develop breast cancer during their lifetime, compared with about 13% of women in the general population.
However, testing positive for a BRCA mutation does not mean that you currently have breast cancer or that you are guaranteed to develop it. Instead, the result provides important information about your level of risk and can help you and your healthcare provider make more informed decisions about screening and other preventive care.
BRCA mutations can be identified through a blood or saliva test. If breast cancer or certain other cancers run in your family, especially when relatives were diagnosed at a younger age, talk with your healthcare provider or a genetic counselor about whether genetic testing may be appropriate for you.
A family history of breast cancer may influence when you should begin screening, how often you should be screened, and which screening methods may be appropriate. However, family history is only one part of your overall risk. Your healthcare provider may also consider factors such as:
Women who are considered at higher risk for breast cancer may be advised to begin screening earlier or undergo screening more frequently. Depending on their individual risk factors, a healthcare provider may also recommend additional screenings, such as breast MRI or ultrasound, in addition to mammography. Genetic counseling or a formal breast cancer risk assessment may also be appropriate.
You may have heard that women with a first-degree relative who developed breast cancer should begin screening 10 years before the age at which their relative was diagnosed. While this approach may be considered in some situations, screening recommendations are not one-size-fits-all. The appropriate starting age depends on your individual risk factors, family history, genetic findings, and the type of screening being considered.
If breast cancer runs in your family, talk with your healthcare provider about your personal risk and whether you may benefit from earlier or additional screening. Understanding your breast cancer risk factors can help you make more informed decisions about your breast health.
A breast ultrasound can provide additional insight for women who may be at higher risk for breast cancer, especially those with dense breast tissue. Dense tissue can make abnormalities harder to see on a mammogram, which is why additional imaging may sometimes be recommended.
Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create detailed images of breast tissue and does not use ionizing radiation. It can also help healthcare providers determine whether an area of concern appears to be a fluid-filled cyst or a solid mass that may need further evaluation.
While breast ultrasound does not replace mammography, it can be used as a complementary screening tool for some women based on their individual risk factors, breast density, and healthcare provider recommendations.
HerScan helps make breast ultrasound screening more accessible with convenient appointments and a simple screening experience. If you’re ready to be more proactive about your breast health, register today to schedule your screening.