Statistics regarding the percentage of women found to be BRCA mutation carriers among samples of women with a variety of personal cancer histories, regardless of family history are listed below. These can help to determine who might benefit from a referral for cancer genetic counseling and consideration of genetic testing.

Among Ashkenazi Jewish individuals (likelihood of having one of three founder mutations):

General population: 1 in 40 (2.5%)
Women with breast cancer (all ages): 1 in 10 (10%)
Women with breast cancer (under age 40): 1 in 3 (30-35%)
Men with breast cancer (regardless of age): 1 in 5 (19%)
Women with ovarian cancer (all ages): 1 in 3 (34-41%)

Among non-Jewish individuals (likelihood of having any BRCA mutation):

General population (non-Jewish): 1 in 500 (0.002%)
Women with breast cancer (all ages): 1 in 50 (2%)
Women with breast cancer (under age 40): 1 in 11 (9%)
Men with breast cancer (regardless of age): 1 in 20 (5%)
Women with ovarian cancer (all ages): 1 in 10 (10%)

Cancer risk assessment is complex and therefore the above list cannot replace a personalized cancer risk assessment. Individuals with early onset (< age 45) breast cancer, bilateral breast cancer, those who are members of families in which there are > 2 close relatives diagnosed with breast cancer, those who are members of families with both breast and ovarian cancer or early onset breast cancer associated with a family history of bone or soft tissue sarcoma, brain cancer, leukemia, or adrenocortical carcinoma should also consider cancer risk counseling.

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