Identifying and managing hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer

All physicians responsible for the medical care of adult women should know how to assess whether a woman's personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer suggests a hereditary syndrome, the medical management options available for women with hereditary cancer risks, and which women should be offered testing for hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer. This article summarizes the biologic basis, family history features, clinical management, and laboratory diagnosis of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk.