Breast cancer runs in your family. But do you know who had it, and how old they were? That one detail can change when you should start screening.

In this episode of the Daily Brief, Dr. Albert Takem talks with breast surgeon Dr. Regina Hampton, co-founder of Breast Care for Washington, about why so many families stay silent about their health history, and why that silence can cost the next generation time. Knowing that breast cancer runs in the family is useful. Knowing exactly who was diagnosed and at what age is even more important. When a mother or grandmother was diagnosed young, the women in that family are often advised to start screening earlier. Dr. Hampton explains the rule of thumb she gives patients: start about ten years before the age at which your relative was diagnosed. Your own doctor will tailor this to your history.

Many families never talk about it. A grandmother "only had one breast", or someone "got chemotherapy", but nobody said the word cancer. Dr. Hampton shares a simple, low-pressure way to collect that information at the next family gathering, and what to do with it once you have it. Cost should not be the reason you skip a mammogram. The CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, available in every state, offers free or low-cost mammograms and Pap tests to women who qualify based on income and insurance. Your local health department can tell you whether you are eligible.

In this episode, Dr. Takem and Dr. Hampton explain:
• Why families stay silent about their health history
• What to write down: who had the condition and the age at diagnosis
• How the index-card method works at a family cookout
• Why the age at diagnosis matters as much as the diagnosis itself
• When women with a family history may need to start mammograms earlier
• What options exist when cost or lack of insurance is the barrier
• How to take what you learn to your own doctor
The goal is not to make family gatherings uncomfortable. The goal is to give the next generation the
information that can help them find cancer early, when it is most treatable.

Questions for Dr. Takem and the team

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