Women with a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors can take advantage of the Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Prevention Program at Roswell Park.
The program combines the latest medical and scientific knowledge with the most advanced surveillance, screening and diagnostic methods for high risk women.
The High Risk Breast Cancer Clinic services include comprehensive risk assessment, risk-reduction counseling, patient education resources and prevention trials.
Participants receive a clinical breast exam and recommendations or referrals for genetic counseling, chemoprevention medication (i.e., tamoxifen or raloxifene), and increased surveillance through diagnostic screening, including mammograms, ultrasound, and breast MRI.
The clinic is designed for women who do not have breast cancer, but are at increased risk for developing the disease. A woman may be eligible for the program if she has one or more of the following risk factors:
- More than two close relatives with breast cancer
- A relative diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age
- A family or personal history of a gene mutation (e.g., BRCA, p53, PTEN)
- A personal history of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical cells on breast biopsy
- Multiple breast biopsies
- Prior radiation to the chest
- A personal history of increased breast density
- A personal or family history of ovarian cancer
Women deemed eligible for the program are seen by a specially trained Nurse Practitioner, in coordination with their personal physician and a breast cancer physician at Roswell Park. Appointments for the program are on Mondays.
The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Prevention Program at RPCI was initiated by a generous endowment from the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association.
Resources
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Quiz
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool
National Cancer Institute PDQ® Database, Breast Cancer Prevention