Does an aunt having breast cancer mean I am at increased risk?

[chody47]

My Mum just told me her sister has been diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer. Luckily they caught it extremely early (barely showed up on the routine mammogram) and it appears to all be out but she still needs some sort of treatment. Anyway, my question is, am I now at increased risk?

[AndiE]

My dad's sister had breast cancer (successfully getting through it over a decade ago), and I was told I wasn't at a higher risk. That the risk was if it was your mum, grandmother or sister. But ... I received that advice about 8 years ago, so thinking might have changed.

I wish your aunt all the best - it's good that it was caught so early xx

[Astrolady]

No only if you are a direct descendant. Mum was diagnosed 10yrs ago and as soon as she was diagnosed I was told that I will have to have yearly mammogram's from the age of 40.

[megs]

I was told the same as Astrolady. My mum was diagnosed last year, my dr said I now need regular mammograms from 40 onwards.

[HotI]

They look at a few things to measure risk - the (genetic) closeness of the affected relative, the age when they got cancer (younger onset more likely to be genetic cause), the type of cancer, the number of cancers within the affected person, and the number of relatives with related cancers.

[Snacks]

My dad's sister had breast cancer (successfully getting through it over a decade ago), and I was told I wasn't at a higher risk. That the risk was if it was your mum, grandmother or sister. But ... I received that advice about 8 years ago, so thinking might have changed.

I wish your aunt all the best - it's good that it was caught so early xx

I received this same advice when my maternal aunt was diagnosed 2.5 years ago.

[AnyDream]

I had breast cancer and my doctors told me that my daughters now have a higher chance of having it too, but it's a small amount higher not a large amount higher.

Statistically, women with a first or second degree relative with breast cancer are more likely to have a diagnosis themselves. However this does not necessarily mean an increased chance of an individual getting the disease, but it's a good reason to demonstrate an increased level of vigilance.

It's important to understand that the majority of breast cancer does not have a recognized familial or genetic aspect, but when there is, the risk increases sharply. Tip offs for a cancer with a familial pattern are: two or more first or second degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer (on the same side of the family), a woman in the family diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer under the age of 40, male relatives with breast cancer, and Ashkenazi background. Having a single female relative with breast cancer does not place you in the high risk group.

There are some good fact sheets about this on the BCNA website. But the best thing you can do is discuss it with your doctor.