Women With Family Histories of Breast Cancer At Higher Risk Regardless of Gene Mutations
Women who have a history of 2 or more close family members being diagnosed with breast cancer under fifty are at over four times greater risk of developing the disease, even if they do not carry the two genetic mutations linked to the disease.
This raises their lifetime risk to 40 percent according to Steven Narod and other researchers at the University of Toronto. He hopes this new research will help advise women early of their risk of breast cancer.
The study involved 1492 women from 365 families who tested negative for the two effected genes, but had close family members diagnosed with breast cancer.
Researchers followed the women for five years, and compared their rates of diagnosis with rates found in local breast cancer registries. The results showed their breast cancer risk was four times higher. However, on a positive note, they did not have the increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, as often happens with women who test positive for the genes.
It is not known whether additional genes, other hormones or even environmental factors hold the key to the increased risk. He believes that for these at-risk women who test negative for the gene, tamoxifen and breast screening MRI are good suggestions.
