Testing must first be done on someone in the family with cancer, before other family members can be tested. Whether or not to be tested is a complicated decision. Talk to your physician or a genetic counselor. Even when a person tests negative for a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, if they have a strong family history of cancer, their risk is still increased, and vigorous surveillance is recommended. See section on Genetic Testing.
Some university hospitals have specialized clinics for members of cancer families.