Can you please define hereditary breast cancer?

BRCA POSITIVE: As many as 10-15% of breast cancers in the us are believed to be hereditary. These are linked to mutations of a particular group of genes called the brca genes. There is a simple blood test to check to see if someone has a brca mutation. I advise my interested patients to see a genetic counselor to fully understand the ramifications of this test before having it done.

Passin abnormal gene: Uncommon, occounting for less than 10% of breast cancers. It is a condition where the susceptability for breast cancer is passed on from a parent to children. The most common genes involved are brca1 and brca2. If there is a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or a diagnosis of breast cancer at a young age, or ashkenazi jewish heritage, the chance for brca positive is higher.