Does a BRCA mutation mean I will get cancer?

No. Inheriting a harmful change in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene raises the risk of certain cancers, but it does not mean cancer is certain.

The National Cancer Institute is clear that a positive BRCA test result cannot tell whether or when a person will develop cancer. Some people who inherit a harmful BRCA change never develop cancer at all.

What a positive result does offer is information. Knowing about a harmful change lets a person and their care team consider earlier or more frequent screening, steps to reduce risk, and, for someone who already has cancer, treatment choices. Because relatives share genes, the information can also matter for blood relatives. A genetic counselor can help explain what a result means for you and your family.