The Asymptomatic Woman

• Before a woman is a patient, she is a woman with her own biography. • The way a woman looks at her breast is a good indicator of her degree of self-confidence. • Women generally overestimate their risk of developing BC and, as a consequence, overrate the benefits that may be gained from screening or preventive measures. • Although many women with a strong family history do not have an identified genetic mutation, their potential serious risk should be properly considered. • BRCA1 and BRCA2 do not have the same effects, and recent reports show BRCA2 carriers are associated with better survival and therapeutic response than BRCA1 carriers.