article_snippet: They opted for double mastectomies and hysterectomies to avoid the 60 to 90 per cent chance of developing cancer.
article_snippet: There were various reasons why I decided to give it a go.
article_snippet: Up to about 70 per cent,’ My mother said.
article_snippet: Spotting my panicked expression, My mother told me there were several things they would do to reduce the risks:
article_snippet: The problem, I feel, with all of these statistics is this: these statistics mean nothing if you are one of the few per cent affected.
article_snippet: The objective is to see if we can identify people at increased risk at an early stage, so we can put surveillance programmes in place.
article_snippet: It was this risk reduction that made any lingering doubts about taking the test vanish.
article_snippet: I must still do what we all should to lower the risks: keep my weight down, restrict alcohol, don’t smoke and take exercise.