title: Population prevalence of first- and second-degree family history of breast and ovarian cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family cancer history is an important risk factor for common cancers, thus, recognizing pattern of familial cancer can help us to identify individuals who may have higher chance to develop specified cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional survey assessed family history of cancer in first- and second degree relatives. Totally, 7,300 persons aged > or = 20 years selected by random sampling from Tehran general population. Age- and sex-specified prevalence of breast and ovarian cancer in respondent's family was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all, 279(4.3%) individuals reported a history of breast or ovarian cancer in their relatives. The prevalence of breast cancer family history was 1.8% among first-degree relatives and 2.5% among second- degree relatives. For ovarian cancer, first- and second-degree prevalence ranged from 0.05 to 0.12%. Those with family history of cancer were more often young and female.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the estimates of prevalence presented here are likely to be conservative compared with actual current prevalence because of some limitations. While family history is an important risk factor for common cancers such as breast cancer, recognizing pattern of familial cancer that signify increased risk can help us to identify individuals who may have higher chance to develop specified cancers.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moghimi-Dehkordi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Safaee
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vahedi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pourhoseingholi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourhoseingholi
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult