High Risk Assessment & Genetic Testing
Approximately 5 to 10 percent of women with breast cancer have a hereditary form of the disease. It is important to understand that not all people with cancer-predisposing genes will actually develop cancer, but their chances are increased. By being informed about cancer risk, people can develop appropriate cancer screening schedules and take steps to shift the odds in their favor.
There is a choice for your future and for your family's future: High-risk assessment and genetic testing offered at The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas.
Genetic testing is a highly sophisticated laboratory test that analyzes DNA from a patient’s cells and identifies the presence of chromosomal abnormalities known as BRCA mutations. Patients who have BRCA mutations have a very high risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime as well as an increased risk for ovarian cancer.
Who should consider genetic testing?
If family history is suggestive of hereditary breast cancer syndrome, patients may want to consider genetic testing. A clue that a mutation may exist in a family would be the presence of multiple relatives in a family with breast or ovarian cancer, particularly if diagnosed at a young age. Patients with two first-degree relatives, such as mother and sister or two sisters are particularly at risk for having a mutation. A male in the family with breast cancer or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry also increase the likelihood of a BRCA mutation. At the Breast Center, patients can take a risk assessment evaluation to find out if they should consider genetic testing.
Women at increased risk for breast cancer may wish to enter a program which may include ultrasound, clinical breast exams, mammography and sometimes MRI.
More Questions? If you have questions regarding high-risk screening and genetic counseling, please call: 479-442-6266
Who is at Risk for Breast Cancer?
- All women are at risk.
- Age The number one risk factor for developing breast cancer is age. The older you are, the greater the risk of developing the disease. Four out of five breast cancers are diagnosed in women over fifty.
- Family History of Cancer – Genetic Inheritance
- First degree relatives (mother, sister, daughter) who had breast cancer, particularly before menopause.
- Two or more other close relatives such as aunts, cousins with a history of breast cancer, especially at a young age.
- Ashkenazi Jewish Descent – Some individuals of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish heritage have been found to have an inherited characteristic that may lead to breast or ovarian cancer.
- Certain Breast Changes Having a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or having had two or more breast biopsies for other benign conditions may increase a woman’s risk.
- Estrogen May Play a Role Beginning your menstrual periods at an early age; going through menopause at a late age; having no children; having your first pregnancy after age 30.
For more information on Breast Cancer, see Breast Cancer Facts |
