Family history of breast cancer doesn't indicate a poor prognosis for women suffering from it

According to a new study, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, having a family history of the disease does not worsen their prognosis after treatment compared to other women with breast cancer.

The study has been published in the BJS (British Journal of Surgery). The study came with positive results for women who may be concerned regarding their future taking into consideration a family history of breast cancer.

It is considered that nearly one- quarter of breast cancer cases in developed countries are linked to hereditary factors. An analysis was carried out by Dr. Ramsey Cutress, an Associate Professor in breast surgery at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust, and his colleagues on the Prospective Outcomes in Sporadic versus Hereditary breast cancer (POSH) study.

The study was conducted on 2,850 women under age 41 years who were diagnosed with breast cancer and received treatment in the UK. It was led by principal investigator Professor Diana Eccles. It recorded patients' tumor characteristics, personal characteristics, treatment, and family history of breast/ovarian cancer over a 15-year period.

It was found by investigators that there were no considerable differences in cancer recurrence rates after treatment received by women with a history of breast cancer compared to those without. According to Prof. Cutress, "Successful treatment for breast cancer is just as likely in young patients with a family history of breast cancer, as in those without a family history".

He added that patients with a family history of breast cancer can therefore feel relaxed as their family history alone does not indicate that the conditions would worsen. The researchers are now looking forward to examine whether some breast cancer gene variants have any effect on the efficiency of different anticancer treatments.