Family history is one of the most useful pieces of information you can bring to a breast consultation — and often the one women know least about. It isn't about whether you need to care about your breasts (everyone does). It's about when to start screening and how.

Next time you're with your mother, sisters, aunts or grandmothers, these three questions are worth asking.

1. Who in our family had breast or ovarian cancer — and how old were they?

Age matters. A grandmother diagnosed in her eighties tells a different story to a mother or sister diagnosed before 50. Ovarian cancer counts too, because the same genes can be involved. Remember to ask about your father's side as well — risk can be inherited from either parent.

2. Has anyone had genetic testing, such as for BRCA1 or BRCA2?

If a relative has tested positive for a gene change, you may be offered testing yourself. Knowing early opens the door to a tailored screening plan, and in some cases to preventive options you can consider calmly, without pressure.

3. Has anyone had other related cancers — including the men?

Male breast cancer, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer in the family can all point to an inherited risk. These are easy to overlook, so ask specifically.

What to do with the answers

Write them down and bring them along. If there is a strong family history, screening may need to start earlier than the usual age of 40, sometimes with ultrasound or MRI alongside mammography. If there isn't, that is reassuring — and routine screening still matters, because most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history at all.

Most women wait for a symptom. Don't. A conversation now can make every future check-up more meaningful.

The practice provides a written quotation with the procedure codes; you submit it to your medical aid to obtain pre-authorisation before any procedure.

Would you like to discuss your family history or arrange a screening assessment? Get in touch with the rooms.