Reduce your breast cancer risk
Since only 1/10 women accurately knows her personal risk of breast cancer, we have a lot of education to do.
Once it is determined that you are higher than average risk it’s important to consider all the strategies that you can do, but here may be one of the most important ways you can reduce your riks:
1. Know Your Risk: Every woman should know whether they are at increased risk by getting Gail Model Score or National Cancer Institute's Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool, a modified version of the well-established Gail model, work through this with your health care provider.
2. Use Medication If Needed: For women who are high risk there is a way to use medication to lower your breast cancer risk. You can cut your risk almost in half with medication use.The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has changed the tenor of its recommendations in its clinical practice guideline on the use of chemoprevention for breast cancer, and they now are including the medications of raloxifene, and exemestane in the medications not just tamoxifen, and the organization is wanting more people to seriously consider these medication. You can be evaluated for these medications as young as age 35. The medications used are not all the same, and have some risks, which includes the risks of blood clots, and benefits beyond breast cancer prevention, which may include osteoporosis prevention in the case of raloxifene.
3. Try Halo Pap Tests Mammogram findings do not directly impact the decision to take these medications, but Halo breast pap tests can influence the decision.
4. For more information go to ASCO’s Website. It is the best step to first figure out your risk, in a new study presented by Dr. Jonathan Herman at a presscast in advance of the 2013 Breast Cancer Symposium, which will be held in San Francisco. The presscast was organized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), he noted only 1/10 women accurately know their breast cancer risk.
Make sure you're not at risk! Call us now to schedule an appointment.