BRCA familial risk assessment and genetic counselling

What it is

Risk assessment for a genetic breast cancer risk begins in the history. Within the triple assessment of a breast complaint, the family history asked for is breast ca, ovarian ca and other cancers, and it is asked because family history is itself a risk factor: especially first-degree female relatives, though only 2-4 times the risk, and probably because a direct genetic factor is involved in the development of breast cancer in about 5% of patients.

The named genes are:

• BRCA1 (#17), which links breast and ovarian cancer.
• BRCA2 (#11), which links breast cancer with other cancers including melanoma and colorectal, but not ovarian.
• TP53 and PTEN, listed on the same line of risk factors.