Breast Cancer Runs in Families. Can You Stop It? Here's What Science Says
- Breast Cancer: What Family History Really Means
- What Are the BRCA Genes?
- How Do You Know If You Carry a Breast Cancer Mutation?
- What Happens If You Test Positive for Breast Cancer?
- Does Everyone With Breast Cancer Have a Mutation?
- Why Most At-Risk People Don’t Undergo Genetic Testing
- What If Your Test Comes Back Negative?
- What to Do If Breast Cancer Runs in Your Family
- You Can’t Change Your Genes. But You Can Change the Outcome
If your mother, sister, or grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, the question often comes quickly: could this happen to me too? It’s a common concern, and it makes sense. Breast cancer affects millions of women across the world and remains one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers.
But when it appears more than once in the same family, it raises a different kind of alarm. It is related to shared genes, inherited patterns, and the possibility of risk passed quietly through generations.
The key is catching that risk before it turns into something harder to treat.
Breast Cancer: What Family History Really Means
Breast cancer has become the primary cancer among women in 157 of 185 countries, making it a global health concern with no borders. Each year, it causes around 670,000 deaths worldwide. While breast cancer can develop in anyone, having a close relative (mother, sister, or daughter) who has been diagnosed puts you at a much higher risk.
This kind of pattern suggests there may be inherited genetic factors at play, which can make the disease more likely to appear and often at a younger age.
The earlier they were diagnosed, the more serious that risk becomes. One case at age 82 might not raise alarms. Two relatives diagnosed under age 50 should.
Other red flags of breast cancer in women
- Male breast cancer in the family
- Ovarian, prostate, or pancreatic cancer in close relatives
- Relatives with cancer in both breasts
- A known BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation in the family
Even one of these patterns may point toward a hereditary cause.
What Are the BRCA Genes?
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes help your body repair DNA and control cell growth. When working properly, they stop tumors from forming. But if you inherit a harmful mutation in one of these genes, your risk rises sharply.
Studies indicate that over 60% of women who inherit a harmful change in BRCA1 or BRCA2 will experience breast cancer in their lifetime. The mutations don’t skip generations. If you carry one, there’s a high chance of passing it on to your children, regardless of gender.
How Do You Know If You Carry a Breast Cancer Mutation?
You can’t feel a mutation. You can’t see it in a blood test or a mammogram. It doesn’t show up unless you test for it directly. Genetic testing is the only way to find out. All it takes is a swab inside the cheek or a saliva sample collected at home. From there, the lab examines your DNA for inherited mutations in the genes most often connected to breast cancer and other related cancers.
For instance, Lifecode’s test analyzes over 50 genes, including BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, and others tied to inherited risk. You get a clear report.
Results usually fall into three categories:
- Pathogenic variant: A known mutation that raises risk
- Benign variant: A harmless change
- Variant of uncertain significance (VUS): Still being studied
If your test shows a high-risk mutation, the next steps matter.
What Happens If You Test Positive for Breast Cancer?
Testing positive doesn’t mean you will get cancer. It means your chances are higher, and you have time to act. Doctors may recommend:
- Earlier and more frequent screenings, including MRIs alongside mammograms
- Preventive surgeries, such as a double mastectomy or ovary removal
- Medications that block hormones linked to tumor growth
- Lifestyle changes targeted at reducing overall risk
Every option is based on personal history, gene type, and family patterns. It’s not one-size-fits-all.
Does Everyone With Breast Cancer Have a Mutation?
No. Studies indicate that merely “5%-10% of breast cancer cases are linked to inherited mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2.”
That means 90% or more come from other causes such as aging, environment, hormonal exposure, and random mutations over time. But when the risk is inherited, the disease often shows up earlier, grows faster, and affects multiple relatives.
That’s why knowing your genetic status changes everything. It lets you shift from reaction to prevention.
Why Most At-Risk People Don’t Undergo Genetic Testing
Despite clear guidelines, most people who qualify for genetic testing never receive it. That’s not because they don’t want to know. A 2021 study found that 59% of people would take a genetic test if offered one, and 25% were strongly interested in knowing their inherited cancer risk.
The gap is due to a lack of access, awareness, and follow-through.
What If Your Test Comes Back Negative?
A negative result does not mean zero risk. It only means no harmful mutations were found in the genes tested. You could still develop breast cancer from other causes like age, hormone exposure, or lifestyle factors.
This is why regular screening remains important for everyone, no matter their genetic background. If your family history still points to elevated risk, your doctor may suggest earlier mammograms or MRIs even with a negative genetic result.
Genetic testing gives you answers, not guarantees. But answers are better than silence.
What to Do If Breast Cancer Runs in Your Family
How to take step-by-step control
Talk to your family. Ask about who had cancer, what type, and at what age. Get both sides of your family tree.
Look for patterns. Clustering, early diagnoses, and related cancers (like ovarian or prostate) can be warning signs.
Book a digital genetic consultation. A Lifecode counselor can walk you through your history and determine if testing makes sense.
Order your test. It arrives at your door. You swab your cheek and send it back in a prepaid kit.
Review your results. Meet with your Lifecode counselor again. Discuss what your report means and what your next steps could be.
Loop in your family. If you carry a mutation, there’s a good chance someone else in your bloodline does too. Encourage them to test.
You Can’t Change Your Genes. But You Can Change the Outcome
You don’t have to wait for symptoms. You don’t have to be caught off guard. Breast cancer doesn’t have to be a surprise passed down like family heirlooms.
Knowledge gives you the power to act early. It gives your doctor a reason to screen sooner, watch closer, and act faster. And in some cases, it gives you the option to prevent cancer altogether.
So, you should:
- Talk to your family
- Trace the pattern
- Take the test
The earlier you know, the more choices you have. Book your Lifecode genetic consultation today and get ahead of breast cancer while there’s still time to make a difference.
Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai Experience: Agarwal is a seasoned pharmacist with over 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical field. She has worked in various settings, including hospital pharmacies and community clinics, where she has excelled in medication management, patient counseling, and clinical support. Agarwal is known for her expertise in drug therapy optimization and patient safety. In addition to her practical experience, she contributes to health journalism, focusing on pharmaceutical advancements and health policy, and is involved in research projects aimed at improving medication practices and health outcomes. is known for her expertise in drug therapy optimization and patient safety. In addition to her practical experience, she contributes to health journalism, focusing on pharmaceutical advancements and health policy, and is involved in research projects aimed at improving medication practices and health outcomes.