breast cancer and family history

Current statistics show that 200,000 women are diagnosed with Breast Cancer each year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.  Debbie Saslow, Director of  Breast and Gynecological Research explained that all women are at risk for Breast cancer, however some women may think they have a family history when, indeed, they do not.

Although it can be traumatic to lose a loved one to Breast Cancer and reasonably cause some women to be anxious about their own risk level, it is important to realize the many variables to consider when evaluating one’s own risk.

Some important points to remember related to one’s own personal risk in connection with Breast Cancer include the following variables:

. How many relatives were diagnosed with Breast Cancer?
. Ages of relatives when they were diagnosed
. Were they also diagnosed with ovarian cancer?

Some studies have shown that if a woman has 1-2 relatives who were diagnosed with Breast Cancer after the age of 50, the risk increases, but in comparison to a woman without any relatives in her family who were diagnosed with Breast Cancer, the risk would not be much higher for that woman.

The risk would increase for someone with 2-3 relatives diagnosed with Breast Cancer on the same side of the family. Further, the risk always increases with the number of relatives diagnosed with Breast Cancer - especially on the same side of the family.

The best way to determine one’s own personal risk is to consult with a genetic counselor, or physician.  There is a questionnaire they will give you and a special tool they use to measure the levels of risk in individual women.  After you have consulted with your physician, or genetic counselor, you will feel better knowing you have taken a proactive step to reduce your worry.

Additionally, you may have a different lifestyle than your relative who had cancer. You may be choosing a much healthier diet, you are a nonsmoker, you breastfed your babies (which lowers your risk) and made other important and healthy lifestyle choices.

Another point to keep in mind is that studies have been done to prove that many of the things we worry about, may in reality, never actually happen.  The fact is, 80% of women who are diagnosed with Breast cancer, never actually had a family history of Breast Cancer, and bearing that in mind may help keep things in proper perspective.

Support groups can also be very helpful during times of loss, or grief.  The greatest benefit from being part of a support group is knowing –you are not alone.

For more information on how to contact a support group near you, contact The American Self-Help Clearing House: 1 800 367- 6274 and TTY 625-9053 [for hearing impaired].