What percentage of breast cancer occurs in women with no family history?

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Multiple Choice

What percentage of breast cancer occurs in women with no family history?

Most breast cancers occur in women with no family history. While having a relative with breast cancer increases an individual’s risk, the vast majority of cases arise in women who don’t have a known family history, because the baseline risk in the population is high and many cancers are sporadic. The commonly cited figure is about 85% of breast cancer cases occurring in women without a family history, with the remaining roughly 15% linked to inherited or familial factors. So the best answer reflects that large majority. The other numbers would imply a larger share of familial cases than is typically observed.

Most breast cancers occur in women with no family history. While having a relative with breast cancer increases an individual’s risk, the vast majority of cases arise in women who don’t have a known family history, because the baseline risk in the population is high and many cancers are sporadic. The commonly cited figure is about 85% of breast cancer cases occurring in women without a family history, with the remaining roughly 15% linked to inherited or familial factors. So the best answer reflects that large majority. The other numbers would imply a larger share of familial cases than is typically observed.

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