BRCA1 was associated with mothers’ lifespan (HR = 1.64, P = 5.35 × 10−11); 139 of 190 BRCA2 PTVs and 73 of 98 BRCA1 PTVs identified in our study had previously been reported as pathogenic or likely pathogenic in Clinvar13 for heritable breast and ovarian cancer syndrome or related cancers (Supplementary Table 1). This evidence concerns the gene BRCA2 and cancer.