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Breast cancer risk

For women with an average risk

For women with an average risk
slide 1 of 5
    
slide 1 of 5, For women with an average risk,

Most women have an average risk of breast cancer. About 12 out of 100 women will get breast cancer sometime during their lives.

[Chart based on National Cancer Institute (2013). SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Breast from SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2010. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html.]

For women who have one relative with breast cancer

For women who have one relative with breast cancer
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slide 2 of 5, For women who have one relative with breast cancer,

If one woman in your family—such as a mother, a sister, or a daughter—has had breast cancer, your risk of getting it is a little higher than for women who don't have a family history of the disease. About 24 out of 100 women with one relative who has had breast cancer will get this cancer sometime during their lives.

[Chart based on American Cancer Society (2013). Breast cancer: Early detection. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/moreinformation/breastcancerearlydetection/index.]

For women who have two relatives with breast cancer

For women who have two relatives with breast cancer
slide 3 of 5
    
slide 3 of 5, For women who have two relatives with breast cancer,

If two relatives have had breast cancer, your risk for getting it goes up. About 36 out of 100 women with two relatives who have had breast cancer will get this cancer sometime during their lives.

[Chart based on American Cancer Society (2013). Breast cancer: Early detection. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/moreinformation/breastcancerearlydetection/index.]

For women who have BRCA1 gene changes

For women who have BRCA1 gene changes
slide 4 of 5
    
slide 4 of 5, For women who have BRCA1 gene changes,

Some women have BRCA1 gene changes. Their risk of getting breast cancer is much higher than average. For these women, about 55 to 65 out of 100 women will get breast cancer by age 70.

[Chart based on National Cancer Institute (2016). BRCA1 and BRCA2: Cancer risk and genetic testing. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet. Accessed April 6, 2016.]

For women who have BRCA2 gene changes

For women who have BRCA2 gene changes
slide 5 of 5
    
slide 5 of 5, For women who have BRCA2 gene changes,

Some women have BRCA2 gene changes. Their risk of getting breast cancer is much higher than average. For these women, about 45 out of 100 women will get breast cancer by age 70.

[Chart based on National Cancer Institute (2016). BRCA1 and BRCA2: Cancer risk and genetic testing. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet. Accessed April 6, 2016.]

Current as of: August 22, 2019

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Sarah Marshall MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Wendy Y. Chen MD, MPH MD, MPH - Medical Oncology, Hematology

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