Breast cancer in some families?
After a close relative (mother or sister) of breast cancer doubles the risk of developing
breast cancer compared to women without a family. With two close relatives affected
increases the risk further.
There are very few families in which breast cancer is very common – ie four or more cases.
Most of these families carry faulty versions of “BRCA” breast cancer. Women with a BRCA gene
defect has a 50% -80% chance of contracting breast cancer. The screening of the BRCA genes
is defective available on the NHS.