- Patients participating in this study have either: 1) expressed an interest in testing for an underlying genetic factor that may account for the breast or ovarian cancer in their family; 2) have at least one relative that has been found to have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 alteration; 3) have a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer that is suggestive of a BRCA1 and BRCA2 alteration; or 4) has breast or ovarian cancer, or has at least one close relative with a history of breast or ovarian cancer and are a member of an ethnic group with increased frequency of BRCA1 and BRCA2 alterations.