Family history dramatically increases breast cancer odds

A recent comprehensive study published in JAMA Oncology establishes that carrying a gene predisposing one to breast cancer is significantly affected by the presence of breast cancer in a close relative. The study notes that those with a pathogenic variant and a first-degree family history had an estimated 22% risk of breast cancer by age 50, compared with an estimated 9.4% with no family history. The study notes that the combined impacts of pathogenic variants, family history and other breast cancer risk factors haven’t been well-studied and says clinicians could use the information to improve patient outcomes. The National Breast Cancer Foundation says about 317,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year.