Inherited pathogenic mutations in BRCA1 (OMIM*113705) or BRCA2 (OMIM*600185) substantially increase lifetime risk for breast, ovarian and to a lesser extent other cancer types defining individuals who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 cancer predisposing mutations is valuable for both cancer cases and unaffected family members: targeted treatment in the form of PARP inhibitors is available for mutation carrying patients (1, 2), and early detection schemes and risk-reducing strategies are offered to asymptomatic mutation carriers (3, 4). The gene discussed is BRCA1; the disease is cancer.