MOTHER'S AGE AT DIAGNOSIS AS A RISK FACTOR

BONBON,

When breast cancer risk is assessed, all instances of breast cancer need to be included.  But your mother's post-menopausal breast cancer would be given less weight in your risk assessment than if she had been diagnosed when she was younger.  Similarly, if she is the only member of her family with breast cancer (or ovarian cancer or prostate cancer among the men) and she was diagnosed post-menopausally, again that indicates that a genetic link is less likely.

A history of premenopausal breast cancer in one's family is of most concern when assessing BC risk.  This is because premenopausal BC is less common and therefore more likely to be caused by an inherited genetic flaw rather than a change in the gene structure driven by aging and/or environmental factors. BC is more common among women who are post-menopausal and most BC is not caused by inherited genetic factors, so when someone gets breast cancer in their 60s or 70s, it's much more likely to be a random occurrance.  So if your mother's BC was a random occurrance, then there is no increased risk for you.  But.... the problem is that there is no way to really know.  You can have BRCA testing, and if you test negative, this would eliminate the most well-known genetic cause of BC.  But genetics are tricky and there would be other genetic causes either not yet discovered or more subtle (if you inherited dense breasts, for example) that may have played a role in your mother's BC and which could therefore put you at increased risk as well. 

So the net of it is that with your mother being diagnosed at the age of 71, it's much less likely that this puts you at increased risk, but there is no way to know for sure.  So in assessing your risk, your mother's BC would be factored in, but not as significantly as it would be if she'd been diagnosed when she was younger.

It is my understanding that the earlier a woman has breast cancer, the more aggressive it is and the greater the risk to her family.  My mother was was 42 years old when she died in 1969 and what I was always told was that because she was so young, that I had to be monitored closely.  I am also reading that with age a womans chance of getting cancer increase, regardless of family history.  With your mother being 71, I would think that leaves you with an average risk rather than a higher risk.

VDRZ921,

No one here can answer your question.  Since your mother was diagnosed at such a young age, the likelihood that her cancer was caused by an inherited genetic mutation is probably higher than most.  But even if it was, that doesn't mean that you inherited this gene from her.  And if her cancer was random (as most cases of breast cancer are), then your risk might not be affected at all.  On the other hand, if her cancer was inherited and you too inherited the same gene, then your risk could be very high.  As for your paternal aunt also having breast cancer, if she was older (post-menopausal) and if there are no other cases of breast cancer, prostate cancer or ovarian cancer on that side of the family, then it's most likely that her breast cancer was random.   And again, even if her cancer was genetic, whether your risk is affected all depends on whether your father inherited the same gene and then passed it on to you.

The only one who can properly assess your risk is a genetic counseller.  Given the history with your mother, I'd recommend that you ask your family doctor or gyne to refer you to a genetic counseller. 

Hi

My Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45, ( a survivor)  and I was diagnosed at 37.

We both had DCIS, Stage 0 , Grade 2.  My Mom also had pageants of the nipple cancer, and had to have her nipple and aerola removed on one side, she chose no recon.

I was told I fit the "typical" senario, where the daughter of the mother should get screened 10 years earlier than when they were diagnosed.  In my case, I was, and did end up getting cancer at a much younger ago than my mom.

I did not "qualify" for the genetic testing, although I did meet with a genetics counselor.  My oncologist doctor I see now for follow-ups said he would discuss my situation with the "board" as he feels I qualify for it.

In your case BONBON0127 , Having your mom diagnosed at age 71, should put you at a risk equal to the rest of the population, from what I have been told.

Krissy

Krissy