News

  • High Risk Individuals
    • Breast Cancer Survival Gene
      14/04/2010
      QIMR researchers, as part of an international collaboration, have found that a gene that is most commonly associated with skin pigmentation, hair and eye colour may influence a patient's chances of surviving cancer.
      ...more
    • Research News NBCF!
      12/04/2010
      Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered that breast stem cells are exquisitely sensitive to the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone....
      ...more
    • Should Genes be patented
      5/02/2010
      The lawsuit challenges the government's granting of control of patents on BRCA1 and BRCA2 to Myriad Genetics (USA).
      ...more

You might be at higher risk of developing
breast cancer if:

  • Two or more family members have had breast or ovarian cancer (especially if they are close relatives – your mother, sister or daughter – and/or if they were younger than 50 when their cancer was diagnosed)
  • You have previously been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer
  • You have previously been diagnosed with a pre-invasive breast disease such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical hyperplasia of the breast (AH)
  • You have a mutation in a gene known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer.  

The NBOCC has created a Familial Risk Assessment – Breast and Ovarian Cancer (FRA-BOC) its an on-line tool designed for use by health professionals. Fill out the assessment here.

We are now in the generation of genetic testing. Not all family histories are related to a genetic fault. Always keep in mind only 5-10% of all breast cancer cases are due to a genetic fault or strong family history.

If you are considering genetic testing read through the other sections on our website. 

Information source: National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre