Fewer than one in 20 cases of breast cancer is inherited. About one person in 1,000 carries the genes responsible, so if a relative has breast cancer it's most likely to be by chance. However, you should be more wary if you have:
• A relative who was diagnosed under the age of 40
• A close relative with cancer in both breasts
• A male relative with breast cancer
• Two close relatives on the same side of the family diagnosed with breast cancer under 60 or with ovarian cancer
• Three close relatives diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer at any age
It may be worth writing out a family health history record, to help you work out patterns of disease that run in the family.
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