Family history

Having a family history of female or male breast cancer on either side of the family can increase your risk of developing breast cancer. You may have inherited a fault in a gene which could eventually lead to the development of breast cancer. A family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer does not affect age of diagnosis of breast cancer in men, the stage of the disease when diagnosed, or overall survival.

Family history becomes more important in increasing your risk of breast cancer:

• the more blood relatives you have on one side of the family who have had breast cancer or ovarian cancer; the family history may be on your mothers’ side or fathers’ side of the family
• the younger these relatives were when they were first diagnosed with breast cancer
• the more closely related these relatives are to you.

Most men who develop breast cancer do not have a strong family history of the disease. If you are concerned about your risk based on family history see your GP.

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