An increasing number of women are becoming empowered to find out about their own personal risk of breast cancer since Angelina Jolie very publically discussed her own personal decision to proceed with risk reducing breast surgery after finding out she was a BRCA1 gene carrier. BRCA1 gene carriers have an 80% chance of developing Breast Cancer by the time they are 80 years of age.
Someone of Angelina’s public stature bringing her story into the public domain was very courageous but was extremely positive. Not everybody would make the same decision as Angelina Jolie however women are now feeling more able to pursue finding out about their own personal risk when they have a family history of breast cancer.
Personal assessments can be arranged by referral to a local family history breast clinic or to the Clinical Genetics department at Liverpool Women's. Individualised risk assessments will then be carried out and options for screening and or treatment discussed. The service will support women to make informed decisions about their own personal risk that meet their own personal needs.
If you'd like to find out more about this topic then please ask your GP to refer you to your local family history clinic.