Does my family need genetic testing for breast cancer risk?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother has been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, and the family is now worried. We have been advised to start screenings after turning 40, but we are a bit unsure about what exactly to do.

It is for me, my sister, and my brother, and we want to make sure we are following the right steps. I am looking for your opinions on:

What is the protocol for people like us with this family history?
Should we just be getting yearly mammograms, or is there something more detailed we need to do?
And what about my brother; does he need any specific tests, too, or is this mostly for the women in the family?
We have heard about genetic testing as well, but is that necessary for us?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Instead of starting at 40 years, many doctors recommend that women with a family history begin screening at least ten years earlier than the age at which their family member was diagnosed.

Once screening starts, yearly mammograms are recommended to detect any early changes in breast tissue.

For high-risk individuals, breast MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) may be recommended in addition to mammograms, as MRIs can sometimes pick up abnormalities that mammograms might miss.

Given your family history, genetic testing may be considered. Genes like BRCA1 (breast cancer gene 1) and BRCA2 (breast cancer gene 1) are known to increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

If your mom has not had genetic testing yet, her doctor might suggest it, and depending on the results, it could be valuable for you and your siblings to get tested too. If one of you carries a BRCA mutation, you would be at a higher risk, not just for breast cancer but for other cancers as well.

For your brother: Men are less likely to get breast cancer, but it is not impossible. BRCA mutations in men can increase the risk of prostate cancer. A physical examination by an oncologist in a hospital is a must.

I hope this information helps you.

Revert in case of queries.

Regards.