Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC)

If I carry a gene mutation, will I definitely develop cancer?

• No. Carrying a gene mutation raises the risk of certain cancers but does not make cancer certain. Knowing about it allows you to take steps — such as enhanced screening or risk-reducing options — that can lower the risk or catch any cancer early.

Should my family members be tested too?

• If a mutation is found in you, close blood relatives may carry the same change and can choose to be tested for it, a process called cascade testing. This allows those who carry it to manage their risk and reassures those who do not.

Can this inherited risk come from my father's side?

• Yes. The gene change can be inherited from either the mother's or the father's side of the family, and it can affect both men and women.

Can men carry and be affected by these gene changes?

• Yes. Men can carry the same gene mutations, can pass them to their children, and have their own increased risk of certain cancers, including male breast cancer and prostate cancer.

If I test positive, what are my options?

• Options typically include more frequent screening such as breast MRI, medications that lower risk, and risk-reducing surgery for some people. These decisions are personal and are made together with a specialist team after counseling.