What Is the Breast Cancer BRCA Gene Test?

Women who have the BRCA gene have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

BRCA genes (BRCA 1 and 2, when normal, repair damaged DNA) are among the genetic mutations linked to breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other cancers when mutated.

• Every woman with a BRCA mutation is at high risk for breast cancer, irrespective of whether she has a family history of breast cancer or not.
• By age 80, a woman with a BRCA mutation has about an 80% chance of developing breast cancer.
• BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations also increase the risk of ovarian cancer, by 54% and 23%, respectively.

• The BRCA gene test analyses DNA to look for harmful mutations in two breast cancer genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2).
• Medical professionals perform this test as a routine blood test.
• The test should only be performed on patients who have specific types of breast cancers or have a family history suggesting the possibility of having an inherited mutation.
• These mutations are uncommon, and inherited BRCA gene mutations are responsible for about 5%-10% of breast cancers.

Discuss this with your health care provider or treatment team as this information is frequently updated. Guidelines for testing may include

• a personal history of breast cancer diagnosis at a young age, bilateral breast cancer, breast and ovarian cancer diagnosis, or a personal history of ovarian cancer;
• a family history of breast cancer at a young age (under 50) or ovarian cancer and a personal history of breast cancer;
• a family member with bilateral breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or both breast and ovarian cancer;
• a relative with a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation; and
• a male relative with breast cancer.