Concern for Family Members

Breast cancer risk for family members

In general, the younger you were when you were diagnosed, the more likely it is another family member will get breast cancer [126,169-171].

Risk tends to be highest in families where 2 or more close family members (mother, father, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons) have had breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer or prostate cancer [126,168,170-171]. For these families, the history of breast cancer is likely due to an inherited gene mutation.

If you have concerns about your family’s risk of breast cancer, talk with your health care provider. Your provider can help you understand your family’s risk and can refer you to a genetic counselor.

My Family Health History Tool

My Family Health History tool is an online tool that makes it easy for you to record and organize your family health history. It can help you gather information that’s useful as you talk with your family members, doctor or genetic counselor.

Learn more about family history and breast cancer risk.

Learn about genetic testing after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Genetic testing

Most people who get breast cancer don’t have an inherited gene mutation related to breast cancer. However, a strong history of breast cancer in a family may be due to an inherited gene mutation that increases risk.

Genetic testing gives people the chance to learn if their breast cancer or family history of breast cancer is due to an inherited gene mutation.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends genetic testing only for people with a high risk of having an inherited gene mutation related to breast cancer [126].

A health care provider or genetic counselor can talk with you and your family about the risks and benefits of genetic testing as well as other issues to consider.

In most cases, the person with cancer is tested first.

• If no mutation is found, the cancer was not likely due to a BRCA1, BRCA2 or other inherited gene mutation included in the test.
• If a high-risk gene mutation is found, other family members who are 18 or older can be tested for the specific gene mutation. Younger family members may choose to wait until they are older to be tested, depending on their risk of breast cancer, personal preferences or life situation.

Learn about recommendations for genetic testing (who should consider genetic testing).

Learn more about genetic testing to learn about breast cancer risk.

Learn about genetic testing to guide treatment after a breast cancer diagnosis.

What does a high-risk inherited gene mutation mean for my family?

People with a family history of breast cancer may worry about having a high-risk inherited gene mutation and passing it on to their children. (A gene mutation can be passed on to daughters and sons.)

Just because one person in the family has an inherited gene mutation doesn’t mean everyone in the family has the mutation. Only identical twins have the exact same genes. Other family members share some, but not all, of their genes.

You get one copy of each gene from your mother and one copy from your father. For example, your mother has two BRCA1 genes. If one of your mother’s BRCA1 genes has a mutation (and her other BRCA1 gene doesn’t have a mutation), there’s a 50% chance you’ll inherit the mutation and a 50% chance you won’t. You get one of your two BRCA1 genes from your mother and it’s random which copy you get.

Sharing your genetic test results gives your adult children and other family members the option of getting genetic testing to learn more about their own risks of cancer. A genetic counselor can help you figure out how to share this information in a way that’s comfortable for you.

Family members with high-risk gene mutations may have special breast cancer screening recommendations (and possibly screening recommendations for other cancers). They may also have risk-reducing options for breast cancer (and possibly other cancers).

Learn more about genetic testing.

Learn more about inherited gene mutations related to breast cancer as well as other cancers.

What to tell close family members (sisters, brothers, daughters, sons and parents)

Assessing breast cancer risk

If you have concerns about the breast cancer risk of your family members, share your concerns with them.

Family members can discuss their personal breast cancer risk with their health care providers.

Learn more about talking with your health care provider about breast cancer risk.

Learn about online tools that may help you talk with your health care provider about your breast cancer risk.

Learn more about breast cancer in men.

Learn more about inherited gene mutations and cancer risk.

Breast cancer screening for your sisters, daughters and mother

It’s recommended women with a family history of breast cancer talk with their health care providers about when they should begin screening for breast cancer.

While screening doesn’t lower the chance of getting breast cancer, it increases the chances of finding it early, when there are more treatment options and the chances for survival are highest.

Learn more about breast cancer screening for women at higher risk.

Breast cancer screening for your brothers, sons and father

Breast cancer screening is only recommended for some men at higher risk due to a BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) inherited gene mutation. For these men, screening may increase the chances breast cancer is found early, when the chances for survival are highest.

Learn more about cancer screening for men who have a BRCA1/2 inherited gene mutation.

Healthy behaviors for all family members

Healthy lifestyle choices are linked to a lower risk of some cancers and other health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Although not all the behaviors listed below are linked to a lower risk of breast cancer, they are good for overall health.*

Everyone should aim to:

• Be physically active (get regular exercise).
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. (People diagnosed with breast cancer who are overweight or obese should limit high-calorie foods and beverages and increase physical activity to help with weight loss.)
• Eat at least 2½-3 cups of vegetables and 1½-2 cups of fruit every day. Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits. Include dark green, red and orange vegetables as well as legumes, such as beans, lentils, peas and soy foods.
• Choose 100% whole grain foods such as 100% whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, millet and quinoa.
• Eat “good” fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats). These are found in foods such as olive and avocado oil, nuts and natural nut butters, olives and avocados.
• Limit or avoid red meat and processed meat, such as beef, bacon and sausage. Choose chicken, fish or beans more often for good sources of protein.
• Limit or avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. Choose water or unsweetened beverages more often.
• Limit or avoid highly processed foods and refined grain products, such as fast food, ready-to-heat foods, packaged snack foods, candy and other food high in added sugars.
• Avoid alcohol. For those who choose to drink alcohol, limit to less than 1 drink a day for women and fewer than 2 drinks a day for men.
• Quit smoking (or never start smoking).

Find a graphic of these guidelines.

Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s Diet and Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Prevention, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and the American Cancer Society/American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Guideline [1,172-173].

* Being physically active, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol and to a lesser degree, eating fruits and vegetables and not smoking are linked to a lower risk of breast cancer. Other guidelines are good for your overall health and may be linked to a lower risk of other types of cancer.

Learn more about diet and breast cancer.

Learn more about healthy behaviors and breast cancer risk.

Learn more about a healthy lifestyle and breast cancer survival.

*Please note, the information provided within Komen Perspectives articles is only current as of the date of posting. Therefore, some information may be out of date.

Updated 03/26/26

This content is regularly reviewed by an expert panel including researchers, practicing clinicians and patient advocates.