Southern Health Familial Cancer Centre

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Breast & Ovarian Cancer

Some families are predisposed to breast and ovarian cancer due to an inherited cancer predisposing gene. This accounts for approximately 5-10% of these breast and ovarian cancers.

A family history of breast or ovarian cancer means one or more close family members who have, or have had, breast or ovarian cancer.

A family history of cancer can occur:

• Just by chance, because breast cancer is common
• Because family members have environmental influences in common
• Because of a gene alteration that is running in the family.

Individuals may benefit from a consultation when one or more of the following guidelines are met:

• Two or more family members with breast or ovarian cancer (on the same side of the family) plus one or more of the following features (on the same side of the family)
  • Additional relative(s) with breast or ovarian cancer
  • Breast and ovarian cancer in the same person
  • Breast cancer before the age of 40
  • Breast cancer in both breasts
  • Breast cancer in a male relative
  • Jewish ancestry
• A close family member has been diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45 or younger plus another close family member (on the same side of the family) was diagnosed with adrenal cancer or cancer of the bone or soft tissue before the age of 45.
• A family member who has had a genetic test that has shown that they have an inherited change in a gene associated with breast or ovarian cancer.
  
   

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To contact Southern Health email : publicaffairs@southernhealth.org.au .

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