Individuals can make various changes to their lifestyles to help reduce their chances of developing certain types of cancer, including breast cancer. One thing they cannot change is their genes, prompting curiosity about the role of family history in relation to breast cancer risk.

First-degree connection

Parents pass down many things to their children, including hair color, height and various other traits. Parents also can pass on an increased risk for breast cancer. Cancer Research UK says some people have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than the general population simply because other members of their families have had cancer. The organization says having a mother, sister or daughter (also referred to as a first-degree relative) diagnosed with breast cancer approximately doubles a woman’s risk for breast cancer. This risk grows even higher when more close relatives have breast cancer, or if a relative developed breast cancer before reaching the age of 50.

Inherited damaged genes

Johns Hopkins Medicine says about 10% of breast cancers are related to inheritance of damaged genes. Several genes are associated with elevated breast cancer risk, including BRCA1 and BRCA2. Additional genes associated with an increased risk for breast cancer include PALB2, ATM, CHEK2, CDH1, STK11, PTEN, TP53, and NF1. People who have inherited a damaged gene may have a particularly high risk of developing breast cancer or other cancers, depending on the specific gene and their family history.

Getting tested

Johns Hopkins says individuals can be tested for genes that put them at risk for cancer. That is a decision that merits ample consideration, and one that should be carefully discussed with a doctor and family members. Genetic counseling can look for inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, the two most notable for increasing breast cancer risk. A blood test is typically covered by insurance companies and analysis can take a couple of weeks. More can be learned about genetic counseling and testing at cancer.org. Whether or not to get genetic testing is a personal decision. However, learning the outcome may help protect future generations. Someone with a genetic mutation has about a 50% chance of passing that trait on to children.

Additional risk factors

Heredity is just one risk factor for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society says white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than some other races and ethnicities. Studies have found that taller women have a higher risk of breast cancer than shorter women, although the reasons for that are not exactly clear. In addition, women with dense breast tissue have a higher risk of breast cancer than women with average breast density. Women who began menstruating early (especially before age 12) have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. That risk can be attributed to a longer exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone. The same can be said for women who experienced menopause later (typically after age 55).