Am I At RIsk
foR BReAst CAnCeR?
WhIle All Women ARe At RIsk foR BReAst CAnCeR,
not All Women hAve the sAme RIsk.
factors including your personal and family medical history, genetic predisposition
and lifestyle are used to assess your risk, and help your doctor make
recommendations for screening and risk management.
Women at a
higher risk for
breast cancer
include:
• Having a known BRCA1 or BRCA2
gene mutation or having a relative with
that mutation
• Patients with other genetic syndromes
• Having had radiation therapy to the
chest between the ages of 10 and 30
• A breast biopsy showing abnormal
cell growth
• Having a calculated risk of breast
cancer greater than 20 percent
Team members recently celebrated the grand reopening
of the Chilton Breast Center which has been completely
transformed to offer an optimal patient experience.
What tYPe of screening is best for me?
Atlantic Health System facilities use digital
breast tomosynthesis, or 3-D mammogram,
which can detect small breast tumors and
decrease false positive readings.
According to Lisa Bash, MD, medical direc-
tor of The Breast Center at Chilton Medical
Center, “The American College of Radiology
recommends annual mammogram screenings
beginning at age 40 for women of average
risk. Women with dense breasts may benefit
from a screening ultrasound in addition to
mammography.
Higher-risk women may benefit from supple-
mental screening with a breast MRI. For
women with genetics-based increased risk,
with a calculated lifetime risk of 20 percent
or more, or a history of chest or mantle radia-
tion therapy at a young age, supplemental
screening with contrast-enhanced breast MRI
is recommended.”
Higher-risk women with a known BRCA1 or
BRCA2 mutation should consider a screening
mammogram as early as age 30. Screening
with contrast-enhanced breast MRI, is used
for certain patients as young as age 25. And,
clinical breast exams every six to 12 months
are recommended.
The goal of screening examinations is to find
cancers early, when they are most treatable,
but they do not prevent breast cancer.
Depending on your risk factors, there are
some steps you can take to further reduce
risk, including:
• Lifestyle modifications including diet and
exercise
• Certain medications can decrease the risk
of breast cancer in some higher-risk patients
• Preventive mastectomy for specific patients
At Chilton Medical Center’s Breast Cancer
Surveillance and Prevention Program, our
physicians, nurses, genetic counselors, nutri-
tionists and social workers will work with
you to develop a plan designed for your indi-
vidual risk and medical history.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment to discuss your personal breast cancer risk, call 973-831-5425.
Chilton Magazine HoLIDAy 2018