Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer: What Every Woman Should Know

We inherit many things from our family – our eye color, our laugh, maybe even our love for coffee. But we can also inherit health risks, including a higher chance of developing certain cancers.

Cancer isn’t always random. Sometimes, it runs in families.

Up to 1 in 10 women with breast cancer – and 1 in 5 women with ovarian cancer – have an inherited gene mutation that contributed to their cancer. These gene mutations increase a person’s lifetime risk of developing cancer, often at younger ages.

If you’ve had multiple relatives with breast or ovarian cancer – or if someone in your family was diagnosed young – you may have wondered:

Could this be hereditary?

You’re not alone. More and more women are starting to ask important questions about their family history and what they can do to protect their health.

Understanding your risk is the first step toward taking control of your health – and at HealthyGene, that’s exactly what we’re here to help you do.

What Are The BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes?

One of the most common causes of hereditary cancer is Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC), which is caused by inherited gene mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

We all have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. When working correctly, their job is to help repair DNA damage in our cells. But when there’s a mutation in one of these genes, that repair process doesn’t work properly – and over time, this can lead to cancer.

As you might have guessed from the name, the two most common cancers caused by HBOC are breast and ovarian cancer. But it doesn’t stop there – BRCA mutations can also increase the risk for pancreatic and prostate cancer. These cancers often show up earlier in life, sometimes even in a person’s 20s or 30s.

If you inherited a BRCA1/2 mutation from one of your parents, your cancer risk is significantly higher – even if the other copy of the gene is working normally. And each of your children has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation, too.

Cancer Risks With a BRCA Gene Mutation

The risks vary a bit depending on the specific gene mutation, but here’s what the research shows:

For Women:

• Breast Cancer: Up to 72% lifetime risk (vs. ~13% for most women)

• Ovarian Cancer: Up to 58%

• Pancreatic Cancer: Up to 10%

  
  

For Men:

• Prostate Cancer: Up to 61% (vs. ~13% for most men)

• Male Breast Cancer: Up to 7% (vs. <1% for most men)

• Pancreatic Cancer: Up to 10%

  
  

These genes affect both men and women, and you can inherit a gene mutation from either parent. So when thinking about your cancer risk – even for breast or ovarian – we need to consider both your mother’s and your father’s side of your family.

Signs Your Family History Could Point to Hereditary Cancer Risk

Here are just a few red flags that may indicate a hereditary cancer risk in your family:

• Breast cancer diagnosed before age 50

• Ovarian cancer at any age

• Multiple relatives with the same or related types of cancer

• Male breast cancer

• Pancreatic cancer or aggressive prostate cancer

If any of these apply to your family, genetic testing may be worth considering. A genetic counselor can do a full evaluation of your family history and help you decide if genetic testing is right for you.

Why Knowing Your Risk Matters

If you test positive for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, you gain information that could literally save your life – and potentially your family members' lives too.

Here’s what you can do with that knowledge:

✅ Start screenings earlier and more often (like mammograms and breast MRIs)

✅ Consider risk-reducing options, such as medications or preventive surgeries

✅ Qualify for targeted treatments, if you ever develop cancer

✅ Help your family members decide if they should be tested, too

Even if your results are negative or uncertain, a genetic counselor can still help you make a proactive plan based on your personal and family history.

How Genetic Counseling and Testing Work

Genetic counseling is your starting point for understanding your hereditary cancer risk – and creating a plan tailored to you.

With HealthyGene’s Proactive Health Package, you'll start with a 60-minute video consultation with a board-certified genetic counselor. During this appointment, we’ll:

• Review your personal and family history in detail

• Explain how hereditary cancer syndromes like HBOC work

• Discuss whether genetic testing makes sense for you

• Recommend the test that best fits your unique situation

  
  

If testing is the right next step, you’ll complete a simple saliva test from home – no lab visit required. Then, we meet again (virtually) to walk through your results and discuss what they mean for you and your family.

How HealthyGene Can Help

At HealthyGene, we specialize in helping women understand – and manage – their hereditary cancer risk.

If you’re ready to move forward with genetic testing, our Proactive Health Package is designed for you. It includes everything you need to get clear answers, from your first consultation to your results and personalized next steps.

If you’re not sure whether genetic testing is right for you yet, that’s okay. Our 30-minute Personal Risk Assessment Consultation is a focused, one-on-one virtual session where a board-certified genetic counselor will:

• Review your personal and family history

• Assess whether your history suggests an inherited cancer risk

• Share whether genetic testing is recommended for you

• Answer your questions with clarity and compassion

You’ll walk away with a personalized understanding of your cancer risk – and a clear path forward, whether that includes testing or just peace of mind.

Ready to Take Control of Your Health?

If you have a family history of cancer and want to better understand your risk, we’re here to help.

👉 Book a Personal Risk Assessment Consultation if you’re looking for guidance on whether genetic testing is right for you.

👉 Choose the Proactive Health Package if you’re ready to move forward with genetic testing and want expert support every step of the way.

You deserve to feel informed – not uncertain. Let’s take the next step together.