Familial breast cancer: classification, care and managing breast cancer and related risks in people with a family history of breast cancer

Familial breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK. Between 100 and 120 women in 1,000 develop breast cancer by the age of 80. Men can also get breast cancer, but it is much rarer than in women. About 1 in 1,000 men develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

Sometimes breast cancer runs in families so there are more cases in a family than would be expected by chance. This is called 'familial breast cancer'. Families that have familial breast cancer may have men with breast cancer and sometimes have other cancers, such as ovarian cancer or prostate cancer. In these families, cancers may develop at a younger age than usual.