Most women who get breast cancer don't have it in their family

5 to 10% of breast cancer is hereditary and caused by mutations (changes) in genes.

Having one or more close relatives (sister, mother, daughter, or grandmother/aunt on either side) who have been diagnosed with breast cancer increases a woman's risk of getting the disease, particularly if more than one relative is affected, and the affected relative(s) were diagnosed at a young age. If this is the situation in your family or if you are concerned about any cancers in your family, talk to your GP.

Sources:

The National Medical Genetics Centre, Crumlin, has information on hereditary breast cancer to download at www.genetics.ie/clinical .

Action Breast Cancer  www.cancer.ie/action/hereditary_breast_cancer.php