

If you’re considered to be at high risk of developing breast cancer, have a complex family history or if further investigation into your family history would be helpful in understanding your risk, you’ll be offered a genetic counselling appointment with a Genetic Councellor.
They can help you understand more about your family history, your risk of developing breast cancer and the options that may be available to you, such as:
Any discussions about genetic testing, its implications and the possible outcomes often happen over several visits
Family History is significant if
Genetic counseling for these genes - known as BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations - can tell a woman whether she is at increased risk for these cancers. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 account for approximately 80-90% of all hereditary breast cancers, and women who carry mutations in these genes have a lifetime risk of breast cancer that is roughly 10 times greater than that of the general population.