Bring your brave: Young black women, check your risk for breast cancer.

Risk for breast cancer among young women varies based on a multitude of factors, such as family and personal history of cancer, genetic mutations, as well as not being physically active and drinking alcohol.

However, research from our National Needs Assessment of Young Women and TOUCH The Black Breast Cancer Experience confirms that young Black women are disproportionately impacted by this disease.

• Black women under 35 get breast cancer at two times the rate of white women and die at three times the rate.
• About 30% of all newly diagnosed Black breast cancer patients are younger than 50 years old.
• Black women are just as likely to have hereditary breast cancer mutations as white women, yet their participation in genetic counseling and testing is lower.
• Black women are 41% more likely to die from breast cancer even though their incidence rates are similar to or lower than those of White women.

Talking to your family about its history with cancer is the first step to understanding your breast cancer risk. While this can be a tough conversation, it can help you and your family members understand your risk for hereditary cancer and make a plan to manage it.

Genetic counseling

It is recommended that you seek genetic counseling before getting genetic testing. When you first meet with a genetic counselor, your discussions will focus on you and your family’s health and cancer histories. Your counselor will use this information to help you decide whether to get genetic testing.

Genetic testing

Genetic testing analyzes DNA to look for a genetic alteration that may indicate an increased risk for developing a specific disease or disorder. There are several types of tests to search for mutations thought to cause breast cancer.

The testing process for breast cancer-related gene mutations is a simple blood or cheek-swab test. A saliva (spit) sample also may be collected. Your sample will then be sent to a lab that will search for gene mutations. A report will be returned to your doctor or genetic counselor. It may take 2 to 3 weeks, or more, for your test results to come back.

These are some important points to remember about genetic mutations and breast cancer:

• Having a hereditary gene mutation does NOT mean that you will definitely get breast cancer
• These gene mutations only put you at greater risk of developing breast cancer than people who don’t carry them
• Most women with breast cancer do not have inherited gene mutations
• Men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to have a mutation

Some people are more likely than others to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Previvor is a term that’s often used to describe people who have a high risk of developing breast cancer. If you find yourself in this group, here are some ways that you can connect with other people who are at high risk for breast cancer.

• Join our Facebook Group Support Community for High Risk
• Call our Helpline to talk to someone who's been there
• Get involved in groups and organizations that support previvors such as FORCE, the Breasties, and the For the Breast of Us