Health Advice

My Mother Had Breast Cancer. Should I Get Tested for the Breast Cancer Gene?

By Deborah K. Armstrong, M.D.

Posted: January 29, 2009

Most breast cancer is not associated with an inherited predisposition, but it is normal to worry about your risk if your mother had the disease. Families with genetic, or inherited, breast cancer are usually characterized by multiple cases of early onset breast cancer occurring before age 50 and spanning multiple generations. If there are cases of male breast cancer, women with cancer in both breasts, or ovarian cancer in the family, the suspicion for a genetic cause of breast cancer increases. If a family meets these criteria, genetic counseling and testing are reasonable. When possible, we begin testing with a family member who has been affected with cancer.

 

Health Advice Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for the general information of the reader and to help patients become better informed to consult with their own physician. It does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship, and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating… Read more >>

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Bryan J. Arling, M.D.

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Deborah Armstrong, M.D.

Medical Oncology, Breast and Gynecological Cancers

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