Concerns about Mausi Lugner

Breast cancer: when you should test your genes

Reduce the risk of breast cancer with regular checkups.(Bild: stock.adobe.com, Krone KREATIV)

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime—like actress Shannen Doherty, who succumbed to the disease, or like Christina “Mausi” Lugner, who is currently in the hospital for further evaluation. In about one in ten patients, the cause of the disease lies in a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. When you should get a genetic test.

Carrying this gene means a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Incidentally, men also carry these gene mutations. While they can also develop breast tumors, they are more likely to develop prostate and pancreatic cancer. Here you can read about the options available for detecting the disease early, preventing it, and, if it does develop, finding the right treatment.