Healthcare Professionals
Positive: What Does My Result Mean?
Positive for a Deleterious Mutation: Overview
If your test result is either "Positive for a Deleterious Mutation" or "Suspected Deleterious":
- You have a mutation or alteration in either the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene
- You have hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome
- HBOC syndrome increases the risk of various cancers, primarily breast and ovarian cancer
- While the risk of developing these cancers is high, not everyone with HBOC syndrome will develop cancer
Your Cancer Risks
| If You Have NOT Had Breast or Ovarian Cancer: |
Mutation Carrier | General Population |
| Breast cancer by age 50 | 33%-50% | 2% |
| Breast cancer by age 70 | 56%-87% | 7% |
| Ovarian cancer by age 70 | 27%-44% | <2% |
| Male breast cancer by age 70 | 6% | .05% |
| If You HAVE Had Breast or Ovarian Cancer: |
Mutation Carrier | General Population |
| Ovarian cancer | 15% | not available |
| Breast cancer after 5 years | 27% | 3.5% |
| Breast cancer by age 70 | 64% | 11% |
| Other Cancer Risks:* | Mutation Carrier | General Population |
| Prostate cancer by age 80 | 20% | 15% |
| Pancreatic cancer by age 80 | 2%-4% | <1% |
* Less information is available about the risks of these and other cancers than about breast and ovarian cancers.
On to "Positive: What Should I Do Now?"
"For me, you can't put a price tag on being prepared."
- A woman who tested positive for HBOC
Women Share Their Stories
