Am I at higher risk of having breast cancer because my mom had it?

You asked an excellent question. First of all, you mentioned that your mother passed away of breast cancer, and I'm so sorry to hear that. But of course, this leaves you wondering, "What's my risk?" And you had the BRCA testing done, you were negative for that, and what that is is a genetic mutation that puts a woman at a much higher risk for getting breast cancer and ovarian cancer, depending on the type of gene that you have. But your chance of developing breast cancer is still high, because you had a first degree relative with it. Studies have shown that women who have one first-degree relative with breast cancer are at a twofold higher chance of developing it, and if you have two affected first-degree relatives, your risk is threefold higher than someone who didn't have first-degree relatives with breast cancer.

The age of diagnosis also plays a factor. The younger the first-degree relative was diagnosed with it, the higher your risk will be. So I do recommend talking with your doctor. And based on their knowledge of your circumstances and ability to ask you more questions about your history, they'll be able to determine what your risk is and when you should start getting tested. And this is a very important conversation that you should have with your doctor, because being proactive pays off. The earlier it's caught, the better your chances are of survival. Good luck with everything, and if you have any other questions for me in the future, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page at   / intermountainmoms  , and recommend us to your friends and family too.