No one in my family has had breast cancer. So can I assume there is absolutely no chance I could get it?

No. Every woman in the land is at significant risk of carcinoma of the breast, even if she has no family history of it. Currently, one female in nine will develop breast cancer at some stage of her life.

To put it another way, if in your schooldays you were in an average-sized class of little girls, the likelihood is three or four of them will get it. So from about the age of 25, every woman should check her breasts regularly. If you notice anything odd - especially a lump - see a doc right away.