At a glance
Having open conversations about your family history of cancer can help you and your family members understand your risk for hereditary cancer and make a plan to manage it.
Tips for talking with your family about your increased risk for breast cancer
If you carry a change in your BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that raises your risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers, this information can affect the health of other family members. Since these gene changes are passed down from a parent, other people in your family may also have the gene change. It's important to share the information you learned from genetic counseling and testing with family members so they can make decisions for their own health.
Watch these videos for advice on how to make these conversations easier from young women who were the first in their families to learn about their risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
Let's Talk: Sharing Info About Your Family Cancer Risk
The Importance of Sharing Your BRCA Genetic Test Results With Family
Hear how women who have tested positive for harmful changes in their BRCA genes have dealt with being the first in their families to learn about their high risk for breast cancer. Watch as they talk about the importance of sharing their genetic test results with their family members whose health may also be affected by this information.
Preparing for a Family Conversation About Your Breast Cancer Risk
After testing positive for harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene changes that raise their risk of breast and ovarian cancer, these women had to prepare to tell family members whose health may also be affected by this information. Hear about the fears they had about these conversations and how they prepared to inform their families.
How to Start the Conversation About BRCA Genetic Test Results With Family Members
Being the first in your family to learn that you have genetic changes that raise your risk of breast, ovarian, and other cancers can be hard because you have to tell your family about their own potential risk. Find out how these women started the discussion about the cancers that run in their families with family members who may also have higher risk.
The Positive Effects of Sharing Your BRCA Genetic Test Results With Family Members
When these women learned they carried a harmful change in their BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that was passed down in their families, they knew this information could affect the health of some family members. The conversations they started about their hereditary cancer risk positively affected some of their family members' health choices. One family member found breast cancer early.
Advice on Sharing Your BRCA Genetic Test Results With Family Members
Remember that you're not alone in facing tough conversations about the cancers that run in your family. You can ask for support from trusted family members or learn from others who have been in your place.
Let’s talk about breast cancer risk
Watch these stories from women and men affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Learn about their conversations with family members about their family history of cancer and hear the perspective of two health care providers.
Finding Strength Through Connection
At age 34, Kenneth discovered he had breast cancer. It took an emotional toll on him, but he found strength by connecting with others.
Taking Responsibility
As a neurosurgeon, Don knew everything in life and in surgery is about risk versus benefit. After discovering his family history of breast cancer, he took responsibility for his own health by getting tested and having a mastectomy.
Asking the Next Question
As an oncologist, Dr. Alter treats patients with different types of cancer. He counsels patients with genetic predispositions for cancer by asking questions about their family history.
Pointing Patients in the Right Direction
As a physician assistant, Shira works with women at some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives when they face breast cancer. She points her patients in the right direction by encouraging them to meet with genetic counselors and take control of their health.
Accepting Support
Brianna was just 5 when her mother died of breast cancer. While still in her teens, she learned how to navigate her own encounter with the disease. She accepted support from her boyfriend Larry during her preventive mastectomy.
Facing Breast Cancer Together
Most fathers and daughters bond over things like dancing or fishing or basketball. But Vanessa and her father Arnaldo grew closer when they faced breast cancer treatment together.
Trusting Your Doctor
Understanding your family history of breast cancer and your own risk can take an emotional toll. Finding a doctor she trusted empowered Allison to face her risk and be proactive about her health.
Finding the Courage
Breast cancer has affected three generations of women in Ashley's family. Finding the courage to see a doctor and learn about her breast cancer risk was the first step in taking control of her health.
Having the Conversation
When Dana told her kids she had breast cancer, she knew how they might feel. She shares her plans to continue the conversation about their family history of breast cancer as her kids grow older.
Taking Control
Eli's family didn't talk about their family history of breast cancer. When Eli learned about her breast cancer risk, she knew it was time to change that.
Your Risk at a Young Age
Erika was only 28 when she learned she had a BRCA gene mutation that raised her breast cancer risk. Facing your breast cancer risk when you are young and single can be isolating.
Feeling Lucky
When Hannah found a lump in her breast, she had to face a fear she always had. Her diagnosis led to family discussions about generations of women in their family who have had breast cancer.
Breaking the Cycle
Nearly every woman in Lauren's family has had breast cancer. Lauren is determined not to let history repeat itself. Learn how she broke the silence to learn about her breast cancer risk.
Learning from the Past
Lexie was 11 when she lost her mom to breast cancer. Now she has an opportunity that her mom didn't have: to take steps to manage her breast cancer risk.
Being Black with Breast Cancer
Ricki's breast cancer diagnosis inspired her to make breast cancer prevention in the Black community her life's mission. She wants other Black women to talk about their family history and understand their breast cancer risk.
Facing the Elephant in the Room
Tallulah's family history of breast cancer was never discussed. When she took action to learn her risk for her own health, she set out to change that—for the health of her family members.