A fault in specific genes can increase your risk of developing breast cancer. Women at risk of having a faulty gene are offered tests and screening. Find out who could be at risk, and what to do if you think you may have a faulty gene in the family. Genes
We inherit genes from our parents. Genes determine many body characteristics, including hair and eye colour. We can also inherit conditions and diseases, or a higher risk of them, including breast cancer.
Having a faulty high-risk gene linked to breast cancer is not common, says professor Gareth Evans, consultant medical geneticist at St Mary s Hospital in Manchester. !Mutations in the high-risk genes affect one in "## people or less,$ he says. Genes called %&'(), %&'(*, +,"- or ,+E. are linked /ith breast cancer. Everyone has these genes. 0f there s a fault or mutation in one of them, the risk of breast cancer is high. +hese faulty genes also increase the risk of ovarian cancer. ( blood test can identify /hether you have a fault in one of these high-risk genes.
Women /ho don t have breast cancer can be offered testing if they are at risk of having a faulty gene. +his can include relatives of /omen /ith a faulty gene, and /omen /ith a strong family history of breast cancer /here a living family member /ith breast or ovarian cancer is available for testing. !Women /ho have a mother or sister /ho has tested positive can opt for a simple genetic test to find out /hether they ve got the faulty gene,$ says Evans. 0f you don t have a relative /ho has tested positive for a faulty gene, family history needs to be strong to 9ustify testing. :;ooking at family history means looking at the combinations of breast and ovarian cancer, and young-onset <younger than "#= breast cancer in the family,: says Evans. :>or e?ample, a family history of three /omen in their thirties or four /omen in their forties having cancer /ould easily @ualify someone for genetic testing.$