Approximately 5%-10% of all breast and ovarian cancers have a hereditary component. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancers are most often associated with mutations in one of two tumor suppressor genes, BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. Women, who inherit a BRCA 1 or a BRCA 2 gene mutation, face increased risks for breast and ovarian cancer. Mutations in either gene confer as high as a 90% lifetime risk for breast cancer and between a 8% and 59% lifetime risk for ovarian cancer*.

Individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are more likely than individuals in the non-Jewish population to carry a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 alteration. Approximately 1 in 40 women and men, or 2.5% of the Ashkenazi Jewish population, will be found to carry a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation**. The BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutations are estimated to occur in 1 in 400 to 1 in 1000 individuals from the non-Jewish population***.


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* Tung N. Management of Women with BRCA Mutations. JAMA. 2011;305(21)2212.
** Struewing JP., et al. The risk of cancer associated with specific mutations of BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 among Ashkenazi Jews. N Engl J Med. 1997;336(20):1401-1408.
***Antoniou AC., et al. A comprehensive model for familial breast cancer incorporating BRCA 1, BRCA 2 and other genes. Br J Cancer. 2002;86(1):76-83.