While 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer, every woman, and some men, carry some risk of developing the disease. Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast.
Although the genes a person is born with may contribute to their risk of developing certain types of cancer, only about 5% - 10% of all cancers are genetic. These cancers are caused by a broken or mutated gene that is passed down in families from one generation to the next.
Genetic counselors at the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute Cancer Genetics Program are specially trained experts that work with patients who are concerned about their family history of cancer and are considering genetic testing.
