im at risk for breast cancer! only 30!

Hi Saphire. Have you had genetic counseling? It would be helpful for you to know how high risk you really are. I would want to do this, and then also be referred to a high risk breast clinic to be followed by them. It could also be that you have not inherited a gene mutation and are not at much higher risk than average. Less than 10% of breast cancer cases are from known genetic syndromes.

Are you near a major city where you can find a cancer center? Can your insurance company recommend one? Mine did.

Be sure that you also get a sonogram when you have your mammogram as you may have dense breast tissue which is harder for a mammogram to read. A sonogram penetrates it better to see if anything that shouldn't be there is there.

Younger women tend to have dense tissue, although I still have it at 65. I also suggest that you find out if your insurance will cover the Braca test which screens for genetic markers. It's what Angelina Jolie had done last year.

My OBGYN talks to every one of his patients about their family history as breast cancer runs strongly in his family and his sister is fighting it now. He recommends that those with a family history get the Braca test. My cousin's wife's family also has it running strongly in it - mother, sisters, aunts, cousins. Her 24 year old niece had a prophylactic double mastectomy and a hysterectomy last year so that she could reduce her risk of getting cancer dramatically. She's doing very well after it.

Since your aunt is still living, it would be best if she could speak with a genetic counselor and consider being tested. If she does carry a harmful mutation, it would be much cheaper for you to be tested for only her specific mutation. I'm sorry you lost your mom so young and I can understand why you'd be concerned about your risk. I agree with Melissa in general about the "10 year rule" (my daughters will have to start screening colonoscopies at 20 - lucky girls), but a genetic counselor could give you specific screening guidelines based on your situation - please try to find out if you can talk to one, especially if your aunt isn't willing to be tested. Check out facingourrisk.org to learn more. I hope you are able to get answers soon.

i want to say that the reason I recommend genetic counseling is because there are other genetic syndromes that raise risk for both breast and ovarian cancer. We shouldn't always just be telling people to specifically get BRCA test. While it may be the most common, the geneticist actually thought based on my family history that it was more likely I had another mutation and tested me for two other genes before she tested me for BRCA.

Hi Saphiregirl

You have been given great advice.  I will add that my breast surgeon recommends that both my children start screening , mammo and/or ultrasound preferably MRI at age 25.  I was diagnosed at age 41.   I was brca negative nonetheless she believes it prudent for them to start then.