Breast cancer screening may not be appropriate for all women, warned the experts from the University of Michigan. A genetic mutation that plays a significant role in increasing a woman's risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer has been discovered.

Breast cancer, estimated to increase by 3 percent per annum up to 2015 in India, result from genetic abnormalities. However, only five to ten percent of the cases are due to inherited genetic factors, mostly due to abnormalities in two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. These two genes may be inherited from either of the parents and may pose a higher lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, more likely to develop at an earlier stage.

Lifetime risk of breast cancer in these women jumps from 12.5 percent in the general population to approximately 60 percent in women with BRCA mutations. It should also be kept in mind that occurance of most of breast and ovarian cancers are random and may not be due to BRCA gene inheritence.

According to Dr Sofia Merajver, director of the Breast and Ovarian Risk Evaluation Program at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Centre, it is important that the right women seek out genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer.

Though it is a simple blood test, the interpretation of the results may be complicated. Doctors recommend genetic testing for those with family history of cancer cases and diagnoses through several generations, older family members (above 50) diagnosed with cancer, family member with cases of multiple cancers like breast and ovarian and also male breast cancer, or other cancers like colon, stomach or prostrate cancers.

Undergoing genetic tests can help assess the risk factor of the person diagnosed with cancer.