rash on breast

Snufi · 01-03-2009, 12:28 PM

Thanks to all that responded to my previous post.
my sister has an appointment next week with a breast surgeon. i hope it turns out to be nothing. My dughter will also see a doctor. She is only 17, isnt that a little too young to have this disease?

StephN · 01-03-2009, 01:41 PM

Hi Snufi -
There is a web site called Young Survivors Coalition and you would be surprised how many young women get breast cancer very early in life. With the stats coming in at one in every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, it is ALWAYS good to check out any abnormal looking or feeling area.

Hope it will not be the worst news, but with the kind of odds we have now, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Jean · 01-03-2009, 01:56 PM

Snufi,
Very good questions, without knowing more, about your family history....

It is a good idea to consider a risk counselor. Those people can be found in your breast care center. You could have an assessment performed.

Now to answer your question: I think that the majority of daughters whose mothers have breast cancer do not have a greatly increased risk. Most breast cancers are random and are not caused by the defective BRCA gene.

An estimated 3-7% of women diagnosed have inherited a mutation in the BRCA gene. So a woman has to have a substantial family history of cancer for there to be a hereditary component in her family. Some signs of a substantial history include:
Having two or more relatives diagnosed before age 50
Having a relative who had breast cancer in both breasts (which would be two cases of breast cancer)
Having a case of ovarian cancer in the family

For certain your daughter should have breast health care earlier than the usual young woman since you have a dx. Even those of us with sons have to be watchful as bc does not only happen to women.

Have someone teach your daughter how to perfrom self exam so she knows her own breasts...when they feel normal...before her menstrual cycle and then after it... I think that is very important that young women know and understand the difference in their breasts during the month.

Knowledge is POWER....
Best Wishes,
Jean