Study: BRCA Gene Makes Breast Cancer Come Early

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A new study of women who carry the BRCA gene shows that each generation of carriers seems to be getting breast cancer earlier than the last.

In general, women with the gene are much more likely to get breast cancer; they have a 60 percent risk compared to the 12 percent risk of women without the gene.

Dr. Freya Schnabel, of the NYU Langone Medical Center, said women with a BRCA1 or BRCA 2 mutation should begin to get screened for breast cancer approximately 10 years earlier than their closest relative.

Doctors say the age gap between generations moves about 8 years a generation.

It's estimated 5 to 10 percent of all women who are diagnosed with breast cancer carry the BRCA gene mutation.