Do You Know Your Breast Cancer Risk? 

The average woman in the United States has a 12% lifetime risk for breast cancer. Each year, more than 180,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer. Many of these women wonder if they are in the 10% that have a hereditary form of the disease. Of those women who have family histories, most tend to over-estimate their breast cancer risk and may be needlessly anxious.

Bryn Mawr Hospital's Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program accurately evaluates your risk factors for breast cancer in an effort to determine your lifetime breast cancer risk by evaluating both your family profile and the well-defined National Cancer Institute (NCI) risk factors.. You will gain an understanding about what it means to be at average, moderate or high risk for developing breast cancer. With this knowledge, you will be able to make informed healthcare decisons regarding breast cancer risk.

Program participants meet with a registered nurse to receive self-breast exam instruction and with a certified genetic counselor to discuss breast cancer risk factors, a personalized risk profile, risk-appropriate screening guidelines and risk reduction options.  Individuals with personal and/or family cancer histories suggestive of an inherited predisposition are offered genetic counseling and genetic testing when appropriate.  And all particiapants have the expertise of both a medical oncologist and an outpatient oncology social worker available as necessary.

The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program is open to any person concerned about breast cancer risk. Individuals who may be particularly interested are those with the following risk factors:

• Early onset breast cancer (before age 50)
• Bilateral or multiple primary breast cancer
• Male breast cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Family history of breast, ovarian or male breast cancer

While any person can participate in this program, individuals with the following histories might be particularly interested:

• Personal history of breast cancer under age 50
• Personal history of ovarian cancer
• Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Personal or family history of male breast cancer

For more information on the Bryn Mawr Hospital Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program, or to schedule an appointment, please call 610-645-8150.

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