The prognosis for recovery from breast cancer for women with a family history of it is no worse than for any other women who have breast cancer, a study has found.
Researchers suggest the finding should give a message of comfort to women concerned about their future when faced with a family history of breast cancer.
Since around a quarter of breast cancer cases are thought linked to hereditary factors, women — especially younger women — diagnosed with breast cancer who are aware of a history often worry about their treatment and its chance of success.
They need not be concerned, the researchers suggest; their study published in the British Journal of Surgery found treatments are no less successful for such women than for women without a family history of breast cancer.
Patients "presenting to breast surgical clinics with a positive family history can be reassured that this is not a significant independent risk factor for breast cancer outcome," they wrote.
In the study of almost 3,000 British women under age 41 years who were diagnosed with breast cancer and treated, women with such a history had no greater risk of their cancer returning than did women without family history, the researchers found.
The study followed the women for a period of 15 years.
While having a mother, sister or daughter who has had breast cancer can increase the risk of developing the disease, it does not change the chances of the disease being treatable or of that treatment being successful, the researchers say.
Advocacy groups said they welcomed the study and its message for women.
"Many younger women with breast cancer are terrified about it coming back, especially when they have seen other family members face the disease," says Samia al Qadhi, chief executive at U.K.-based Breast Cancer Care.
"This crucial study now gives clear evidence confirming that, rather than a family history, it is the type and stage of the breast cancer and the treatments given which are the biggest factors influencing each person's survival," he says.
Study researcher Dr. Ramsey Cutress, an associate professor in breast surgery at the University of Southampton, said the study findings should provide reassurance for younger women "that their cancer should be treated in the usual way, and that the family history alone will not impact on their outcome."
