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Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common female cancer, affecting approximately 1 in 8 women in the United States. While most breast cancer does not run in the family, approximately 5-10% of breast cancers are hereditary. Hereditary cancers are caused by a mutation in a gene that can be passed on from generation to generation.

Symptoms

• Swelling of all or part of the breast
• Skin irritation or dimpling
• Breast pain
• Nipple pain or nipple turning inward
• Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk
• Lump in the underarm area

Causes/Risk Factors

• Increasing age
• Family history of breast cancer
• Dense breast tissue
• Early onset of menstrual periods or late menopause
• History of radiation to the chest area
• Not having children or having them later in life
• Postmenopausal hormone therapy
• Alcohol
• Obesity

Signs of Hereditary Breast Cancer

• Breast cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger
• Cancer in both breasts (bilateral breast cancer)
• More than one close family member with breast cancer
• Both breast and ovarian cancer on the same side of the family
• Breast cancer in an Ashkenazi Jewish individual
• Male breast cancer

Genetic Tests

The following genetic tests may be appropriate based on your personal and/or family history:

• BRCA1/2 (hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome)
• PTEN (Cowden syndrome)
• p53 (Li-Fraumeni syndrome)
• CDH1 (hereditary diffuse gastric cancer)
• STK11 (Peutz-Jeghers syndrome)

Schedule an Appointment

To speak with a board-certified genetic counselor about your risks for this disease:

• Schedule genetic counseling appointment online
• Or call 1-800-975-4819
• Send email

Learn More

National Cancer Institute

Support Groups

FORCE
Susan G Komen Foundation