What is hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome?
HBOC cancer 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.