[ PRINT ] [ Printing FAQ ] About OncoLink Editorial Board Sponsors Help See Today's OncoTip Usage Statistics Virtual Classroom Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute "Confronting Cancer Through Art" is an exhibition by people whose lives have been touched by cancer. This week we are featuring artwork by: Jacqueline Kniewasser Pontypool, Ontario Visit the Children's Art Gallery This week's artwork was donated by a pediatric cancer patient who received treatment for cancer at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

NAPBC Booklet: "Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer Risk: It's Your Choice" Affiliation: National Action Plan on Breast Cancer Posted Date: November 23, 1997 Copyright © 1997, The National Action Plan on Breast Cancer Editor's note: OncoLink also hosts the video and fact sheet that accompany this booklet. For American women, breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Each year, more than 180,000 women in the United States learn that they have breast cancer. Some kinds of cancer, such as breast cancer, seem to run in families. There is a test that may tell some people if they are at risk for this kind of breast cancer. Before getting tested, however, there are many factors to consider. This booklet provides a general overview on testing for breast and ovarian cancer risk. It describes the pros and cons of this kind of testing and explains terms like "family history," "genes," and "genetic testing." For more information about cancer and genetic testing, you should talk to a doctor or other health care professionals trained in genetics or call the National Cancer Institute s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER. A woman with a significant family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer has an increased risk of getting these cancers. You have a significant family history if: you have two or more close family members who have had breast and/or ovarian cancer and the breast cancer in the family members has been found before the age of 50 A close family member can be your: mother sister grandparent (on either your mother's or father's side) mother's sister father's sister A close family member can also be your father, brother, or uncle, but breast cancer is very rare in men. Your family history of cancer can be assessed by a doctor or other health care professional trained in genetics who will determine if you have a significant family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Having this information may help you learn about your cancer risk and help you decide if genetic testing is right for you. It is important to know that a family history of cancer does not mean you are going to get cancer. Many things such as family history and age may increase a person's chance {or risk) of getting cancer, but family history alone is not the only reason people get cancer. Scientists do not know all the reasons why people get cancer. Next

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