What is hereditary breast ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome?
Hereditary breast ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome is characterized by the following features in a family: • an early age of onset of breast cancer (often before age 50) • family history of both breast and ovarian cancer • increased chance of bilateral cancers (cancer that develop in both breasts, or both ovaries, independently) or an individual with both breast and ovarian cancer • an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance (vertical transmission through either the mother or father’s side of the family) • an increased incidence of tumors of other specific organs, such as the prostate Other factors that increase the chance that a family has the hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome include: • family history of male breast cancer • Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
