Family History?

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Kt2013
Kt2013 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I'm really confused.

My mum had breast cancer aged 48 and passed away last year aged 58.

I read that having a 1st degree relative with BC doubles your risk, but then I also read that having one close relative diagnosed over age 40 doesn't necessarily mean that your risk is increased, so don't know what is correct.



Also, I am an only child and my mum was too, so there are no more female relatives to include in a family history. My mother's father died of stomach cancer aged 72 and his father had pancreatic cancer and died aged 69. I wonder whether either of these are likely to mean mums cancer was hereditary, or whether I'm just worrying because we are such a small family.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited June 2013

    About the only way to get a good risk assessment is to have genetic counseling done.  It is really complicated and a lot of factors besides family history play into your individual risk.  There are also genetic syndromes besides BRCA that increase your risk. More than 85% of breast cancer is not genetic, or as far as what is known now that is the case. It is true that the fact that your mom was not diagnosed younger makes your risk related to her cancer lower, but I don't know to what extent.

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