NATIONWIDE — Knowing your cancer risk and being proactive about your health could help you take steps to lower your risk for getting breast or ovarian cancer, or find it at an early stage.

Black women under the age of 35 have breast cancer rates that are two times higher than white women of the same age.

Learn your family history of cancer

Asking relatives about their cancer histories can be hard. Follow these tips:

Share that you have learned that cancers can run in families.

Explain that you are creating a record of your family’s history of cancer.

Encourage family members to respond in a way that is most comfortable to them.

Word your questions carefully, be a good listener, and respect their privacy.

Write down who had cancer, age when diagnosed, and type of cancer.

Understand genetic counseling and testing

Genetic counseling and testing are recommended for women whose family medical history has certain patterns of cancer.

Genetic counseling can help you understand your risk based on your personal and family medical history.

You will find out:

If a genetic test is right for you.

Specific tests that might be used, and their accuracy.

Possible genetic test results and next steps.

How a test result might not give you all the information you need.

The emotional risks and benefits of genetic testing.

How genetic test results may affect other family members.

What is genetic testing?

Genetic testing helps you learn if your family history of breast cancer is due to a specific inherited gene mutation. It’s done with a blood or saliva sample, at a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic.

Genetic test results are a factor in determining overall risk. Results can help you understand your risk of getting breast and ovarian cancers and steps you can take to reduce your risk.

A positive test result does not mean you will definitely get breast or ovarian cancer. If you test negative for a specific gene mutation, you still may be at an increased risk.

Make healthy lifestyle changes

Maintain a healthy weight.

Get enough physical activity.

Breastfeed your babies.

Get mammograms, to increase the chance of finding breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat.

Know how your breasts normally look and feel.

Talk to your doctor right away if you notice changes in your breast.

Talk to your doctor if you have a family history of cancer.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control, bit.ly/3DVRSeB.