Breast cancer risk reduction can be managed in four different categories:

• Increased Surveillance
• Lifestyle Modifications
• Chemoprevention
• Preventative Surgery.

Increased Surveillance

Some women who are found to be high risk may choose to have closer surveillance. Traditionally for average risk women guidelines for surveillance are:

• Monthly Self Breast Exam starting at age 18.
• Clinical Breast Exam semiannually starting at age 25.
• Annual mammograms at age 40 or 5-10 years younger than any 1st degree
  relative.
• No specific guidelines for breast MRI.

New guidelines for very high risk women or women with a known genetic mutation are : 

• Monthly Breast Self Exam starting at age 18
• Clinical Breast Exam semiannually starting at age 25.
• Annual mammograms alternating with breast MRI starting at the age of 25.

The St. John Health High Risk Breast Clinic can help develop a personalized surveillance program for you based on your risk factors for breast cancer. For your personalized surveillance program, call 1-888-440-0644.

For extremely high risk women and women with known genetic mutations there are guidelines for increased ovarian survelillance. They are:

• Concurrent transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 (blood test) every 6 months
  starting at age 35 or 5-10 years earlier than the earliest age of first diagnosis of
  ovarian cancer in the family.

Lifestyle Modifications

Diet: Some research suggests that diets low in fats may decrease your risk of breast cancer.  We recommend avoiding diets high in saturated or hydrogenated fats such as peanut and vegetable oil and instead using fats such as canola or olive oil.  We also recommend a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables which add cancer fighting anti-oxidants.

Weight: Some research suggests that postmenopausal obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer. Maintaing a healthy weight and exercising regularly may reduce your risk of breast cancer and improve your general health.

Alcohol: Consuming more than 2 drinks of alcohol a day does increase the risk of breast cancer. Recent data suggests that dietary folate can counteract the effect of alcohol. 

Chemoprevention

Tamoxifen: Tamoxifen is a drug that is approved for breast cancer reduction in high risk women. It is a selective estrogen receptor modulator, this means it works by blocking the effects of estrogen in breast tissue, which can be a stimulant for breast cancer cell growth. It has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk by 50%.

Oral Contraceptives: Oral contraceptives may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations by as much as 54%. 

Preventative Surgery

Preventative Mastectomy: Preventative Mastectomy is the removal of both breasts. Preventative Mastectomy significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer to the high 90% range.

Preventative Oopherectomy: Preventatice Oopherectomy is the removal of the ovaries for risk reduction. This procedure significantly reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 96% and the risk of breast cancer by as much as 53%.
 

For more information about ways you can reduce your risk call the High Risk Breast Clinic 1-888-440-0644.