Early Screening for Breast Cancer Relatives Questioned

Women with first-degree relatives who have had breast cancer often participate in early screening programs at their physicians' advice. And having a first-degree relative diagnosed with the disease before age 50 is an indication for starting surveillance before age 50. A recent study published in BMC Cancer stated that family history alone is not a specific enough criterion to identify women who might benefit from early screening.

By studying more than 1,900 women with sisters who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, the researchers found that risk was more complicated, involving at least two cases of female breast cancer in a first-degree relative younger than 50 or at least one case of breast cancer in a female relative younger than 40. A single case of bilateral breast cancer also increased risk of developing breast cancer at a younger age than women in the general population.

Using these specific factors would more closely determine risk for recommending early screening, suggested the authors. The study appears in the July 22 issue of BMC Cancer.