Understanding your breast cancer risk factors
About 10 percent of breast cancers are hereditary, 65 percent are considered sporadic and the other 25 percent are familial. Those with some sort of familial link really need to understand their risk.
The first step is talking to your family. Find out if parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc., have had any kind of cancer. Next, talk to the health-care provider who orders and reviews your mammograms. Ask if you have dense breast tissue and if there are any areas the radiologists are monitoring.
Third, initiate a conversation about cancer risk with your gynecologist or primary care provider. Ultimately, the best and most comprehensive way to understand risk is to talk to a genetic counselor and, if recommended, undergo genetic testing.
Because of my family history, I knew I needed additional screening and genetic counseling. My health-care provider ordered a screening breast MRI, which found suspicious areas that required biopsy. They found a high-risk lesion and recommended surgery.
I proceeded with genetic testing, which showed that I have a mutation. It is most likely not BRCA since my mom tested negative, but rather a mutation that falls into a category of VUS, “variants of unknown significance.” If you have a VUS, the genetic testing labs and geneticists will follow the mutation as scientists seek to understand if it increases cancer risk; 98 percent of VUS are ultimately found to be benign.
While I had several options, I have decided to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction. Understanding my cancer risk allowed me to make this decision with confidence and certainty.
Make it a goal to learn more about your family history and tell your friends to do the same. If you have had breast cancer and have not had genetic testing, talk to your providers to understand if you would benefit from it. If you have family history and have not had breast cancer, talk to your provider to see if you should be referred for a genetic risk evaluation.
Bottom line, truly understanding your cancer risk helps you make decisions about yourself. And if you have children, it will aid in seeking appropriate and necessary screening and surveillance for them.
Breast Cancer Risk Seminar
What: Medical experts will explain genetic counseling, MRI breast screening, chemoprevention therapy and lifestyle changes.
When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 28
Where: Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
RSVP: 925-677-5041 or sjung@dvohmg.com
Michelle Frankland is an oncology certified nurse practitioner with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group and the nurse navigator for the Women’s Cancer Center of the East Bay, both located in Pleasant Hill. She can be reached at 925-825-8878.