This booklet is designed to help women understand what it means to have a family history of breast cancer. Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast become abnormal and grow out of control. Cancer cells can break away from the original tumour and enter the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body. This process is called metastasis.
Breast cancer is a common disease.
One in 14 Australian women will develop breast cancer by the age of 75 years. Therefore many people have a family member who has had breast cancer. Most cells in the body are continually growing, dividing and being replaced. There are genes in each cell of the body that control the growth of that cell. These mutations may occur at any time during a woman's life.