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Katy Kell had regular mammograms and ultrasounds due to her family’s history with breast cancer. Her caution led to an early diagnosis. Katy Kell, 71, of Warren, was no stranger to breast cancer. Her family had a history of the disease.

Having a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed with breast cancer increases risk. This risk is higher when close relatives have breast cancer, or if a relative developed breast cancer under the age of 50. There are some people who have an increased risk of breast cancer because they have an inherited gene fault. About 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary, meaning that they result directly from gene changes passed on from a parent.

The most common cause of hereditary breast cancer is an inherited mutation in the BRC

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