0920-0800 C2 - Materials for Testing_AJ (No Family History)_4 09 2

Attachment C2: Materials for Testing (Ashkenazi Jewish Women No Family History)

It’s time to talk about breast cancer risk.
Elana, Age 25
Georgia

ELANA: My mom had breast
cancer and tested positive for a
BRCA mutation, so I knew that
my risk of inheriting the mutation
and developing breast or
ovarian cancer was increased.
Because I am an Ashkenazi
Jewish woman, I’m ten times
more likely to have a BRCA1 or
BRCA2 gene mutation than the
general population.

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WWW.CDC.GOV/BRINGYOURBRAVE

ELANA: At my last check up,
I discussed my family history
with my doctor and whether
BRCA testing was right for
me. She referred me to a
genetic counselor to learn
more.

ELANA: I wanted to make sure I
had all the information to make
decisions about my health and
my future. I decided to get tested
and I’m BRCA negative.

NARRATOR: Learning your
family history of cancer could
save your life. Visit
CDC.gov/BringYourBrave for
more information.

Attachment C2: Materials for Testing (Ashkenazi Jewish Women No Family History)

It’s time to talk about breast cancer risk.
WWW.CDC.GOV/BRINGYOURBRAVE

JACKIE: Learning about your
family history can help you
know if your chances for
getting breast cancer at a
young age are higher than
average.

JACKIE: At first I thought it
would be hard to talk to my
family about their cancer
history, but when I explained
that I wanted to learn more so
that I could protect myself and
my future children, my family
shared their personal
experiences.
I am at an increased risk
because my aunt was
diagnosed with breast cancer
at age 37.

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JACKIE: It’s time to talk about
breast cancer risk. If you have
a family history of breast
cancer, make sure to tell your
doctor and ask how you can
manage your risk.

NARRATOR: Visit
CDC.gov/BringYourBrave for
more information.

Attachment C2: Materials for Testing (Ashkenazi Jewish Women No Family History)

It’s time to talk about breast cancer risk.
WWW.CDC.GOV/BRINGYOURBRAVE

LAUREN: When I was 28, I found a lump in my
right breast.

LAUREN: Know how your breasts normally look
and feel. If you have any signs that worry you,
report them to your doctor right away.

Something about it didn’t feel right to me, so I
made an appointment with my doctor. It was
scary to think that I could have breast cancer, but
my family and friends were there to support me.

NARRATOR: Visit CDC.gov/BringYourBrave for
more information.

The good news is that it wasn’t cancer… and the
experience empowered me to take a more active
role in managing my health.
My doctor talked to me about ways to lower my
risk for developing breast cancer in the future. I
try to eat more fruits and vegetables and get in a
few hours of exercise every week. I also learned
that breastfeeding my children could help reduce
my risk.

C2

Five Things You Need to Know about
BRCA Genes
1. Everyone has BRCA genes. BRCA stands for BReast CAncer. There are two BRCA genes—BRCA1 and
BRCA2. When functioning normally, these genes help the body prevent cancer. They help keep breast,
ovarian, and other types of cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way.
2. A BRCA gene mutation increases cancer risk. When certain changes or “mutations” in the BRCA
genes occur, cells are more likely to divide and change rapidly, which can lead to developing cancer.
Only about 5–10% of breast cancers diagnosed in the United States are
associated with BRCA mutations. However, women with a BRCA
mutation face a 60–87% lifetime risk for breast cancer—much higher
than the general population.
3. BRCA gene mutations can come from your mother or father. Many
people believe that only mothers can pass down BRCA gene mutations
to their children, but this is not true. You can inherit a mutation from
either of your parents. If one of your parents carries a BRCA gene
mutation, you have a 50% chance of also having the mutation.
4. Some people are at increased risk for a BRCA gene mutation. You
may be at increased risk for a mutation if your family history includes
any of the following: multiple relatives with breast cancer; any
relatives with ovarian cancer; relatives diagnosed with breast cancer
before age 50; a relative with cancer in both breasts; a relative who had both breast and ovarian cancers;
a male relative with breast cancer; relative with a known BRCA gene mutation; or Ashkenazi Jewish
ancestry (Central or Eastern European) and any relative with breast or ovarian cancer. Ashkenazi Jewish
women are ten times more likely to have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation than the general
population.
5. Only a genetic test can confirm a BRCA mutation. The only way to know for certain if you have a
BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation is to have a genetic test. You should meet with a trained genetic expert
to determine if testing is right for you and if you decided to get testing, to receive counseling prior to
testing. Most people do not need genetic testing.
Knowing your BRCA gene mutation risk can save your life. Talk to your doctor to see if genetic counseling
and testing are right for you.

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control

Attachment C2: Materials for Testing (Ashkenazi Jewish Women No Family History)

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National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control

Attachment C2: Materials for Testing (Ashkenazi Jewish Women No Family History)

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