Who Should Consider Testing for Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer?
Genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer may help you make better health decisions and prevent disease if you are at higher risk for these diseases. Most cancer is sporadic — it occurs by chance alone. But 7 to 10 percent of breast and ovarian cancer is hereditary, or passed from generation to generation. Hereditary cancer has general features that include: • Cancer diagnosed at a young age (earlier than 50 years old) • Multiple primary cancers in the same person • A combination of certain cancers in a family, such as breast and ovarian or colon and uterine Hallmark features in a personal and family history that suggest hereditary breast and ovarian cancer are: • Breast cancer before age 50 • Ovarian cancer at any age • Breast cancer in both breasts • Breast cancer and ovarian cancer diagnosed in the same person • Male breast cancer • Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends that genetic testing be offered when: • You have a
