BREAST CANCER IN ONE FAMILY GROUP

Abstract

The incidence of breast cancer was detd. in one Utah kindred including 668 individuals. The information was obtained from personal interviews with members of the group, medical records, and death certificates. Nine cases of breast cancer and 4 cases of breast tumors were identified. The frequency in this kindred is about 20 times as great as that in the general population of Utah over 30 yrs. of age. In this pedigree one half of the deaths of mature females resulted directly from breast cancer. Some who died from other causes had breast tumors at the time of death. Most cases are concentrated in certain branches of the kindred while none have been detected in other branches. The period of onset, duration of the disease and general clinical history are remarkably similar among members of these families. The data indicate that heredity is a predisposing factor for breast cancer, but the nature of the inheritance is unknown. To facilitate the investigation of the hereditary mechanism and other phases of the cancer problem, members of this group will be given regular examinations by competent physicians to detect the presence of breast cancer or precancerous conditions as early as possible.