The High Risk Breast Cancer Program

• Detailed history and physical exam by a breast-care specialist
• Imaging studies if indicated 
• Formal genetic counseling and testing when appropriate 
• Personalized screening and management plan which may include education on healthy behaviors, medications or surgeries. 

High-risk factors for developing breast cancer may include:

• Family history of breast cancer
  • Having ONE first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer can double a woman's risk.
  • Having TWO first-degree relatives with breast cancer can increase a woman's risk by 3-fold.
  • Having two or more affected close relatives, such as aunts, grandmothers or cousins, especially if diagnosed at a young age, also puts a woman at increased risk for developing breast cancer.
• Personal history of breast cancer
  • A woman diagnosed with cancer in one breast may have a 3 to 4 fold increased risk for developing a new breast cancer in the opposite breast or in a different location of the same breast.
• History of previous biopsy showing atypical hyperplasia increases a woman's risk to develop breast cancer 4 to 5 times above normal. 
• Women with lobular carcinoma in-situ (LCIS) have a 7 to 11 fold increased risk to develop invasive breast cancer.

At the Comprehensive Breast Center early detection of breast cancer in high-risk women is achieved by combining expert clinical assessments with the latest in imaging technology.