Teens and young adults respond well to learning about familial cancer risk

If you are a parent who has a known inherited high-risk mutation or a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer, you might struggle to know when to communicate the risk to your children. A new study shows that teens and young adults generally respond well to learning about their genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer.

The study showed that children of mothers who tested positive for BRCA mutation were no more or no less likely to act in ways that could prevent cancer compared to children of mothers without a BRCA mutation. Importantly, knowledge of a BRCA mutation did not affect their immediate well-being.

Evidence shows that beginning conversations in adolescence about familial cancer risk could lead to more open communication later in life about genetic testing, screening, and preventive options. However, speaking with your child about their cancer risk is a highly personal decision, and connecting with a genetic counselor might help you navigate such conversations.

You can read more about this study here.