Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, but no genetic link, are not consistent in how they perceive their risk or in their efforts to manage the risk, leading some women to not adequately access breast cancer services, a recent study has found.
Published in the journal Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice, the aim of the study was to explore how women at higher-than-average risk of breast cancer, without a known genetic mutation perceived and managed their risk. The women were recruited from a population-based sample.
Around 5% or 300,000 Australian women have a moderate or potentially high risk for breast cancer due to family history with no identified genetic explanation.
The 24 women in the study had at least one first- or second-degree relative diagnosed with the disease before age 50, and some had up to three first degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer. None had a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation identified in their family.
Read more at Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice