Table 1. Description of family history of breast and ovarian cancer among 58 breast cancer patients diagnosed ⩽50 years and classified as high familial risk.

Family history	n=58
At least one FDR with breast/ovarian cancer ⩽50 years	30
One FDR ⩽50 years with breast cancer (with or without other relatives with breast cancer)	26
One FDR ⩽50 years with bilateral breast cancer	4
At least two breast/ovarian cancers among FDRs	4
Two FDRs with breast cancer	2
One FDR with bilateral breast cancer and one SDR with breast cancer	2
At least three cases of breast/ovarian cancer among FDRs or SDRs	24
Two FDRs with ovarian cancer and one FDR with breast cancer	1
One FDR with bilateral breast cancer, two SDRs with breast cancer and one SDR with ovarian cancer	1
Two relatives with breast cancer and one with ovarian cancer	2
Three relatives with breast cancer	15
Four relatives with breast cancer	3
Five relatives with breast cancer and one with ovarian cancer	1
Six relatives with breast cancer	1

Geneva Cancer Registry 1990–2001.

FDR=first-degree relative: mother, sister(s), daughter(s).

SDR=second-degree relative: grandmother(s), aunt(s), niece(s).