Important of genetic consultation in breast cancer patients

Between the risk factors of breast cancer the most important one is family history. Many experts believe that 10 to 15 percent of breast cancers are hereditary. Today there are criteria (NCCN 2008) which show whom the patients need genetic consultation, and BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing. This is a cross sectional follow up study in 1157 patients with breast cancer to show how many of them have the NCCN criteria for genetic counseling. The records of these patients are available in the clinic of Iranian Center for Breast Cancer (ICBC) and have been followed for ten years. Their data recorded in a questionnaire and properly analyzed statistically. Age at the time of diagnosis was less than 40 years in 32 percent of patients. 10 percent of patients had breast cancer before age 50 years with strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer, 1.5 percent had more than two relatives with breast or ovarian cancers and 0.5 percent with history of the male- relative's breast cancer. From all of the patients who had breast cancer, 397 patients had at least one of the above criteria. (Tab.1)