This content was written by Pim Suwannarat, MD, geneticist at Kaiser Permanente.
Did you know that 10-12% of women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime? While Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder to lower your risk by getting a mammogram, I want women in our community to know that there are steps you can take all year-round and at almost any age. With these simple tips, you can not only reduce your risk of breast cancer but also equip yourself with knowledge that can help you proactively stay on top of your breast health.
About one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her life. And Black women are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer before the age of 40 than white women. The good news is that when breast cancer is detected early, it is highly treatable. While studies show that lifestyle choices such as eating well, exercising, and controlling weight play crucial roles in lowering cancer risk, understanding your genetic predisposition can also arm you with essential information and offer earlier access to life-saving screening. Here are the top three tips for assessing your genetic predisposition to breast cancer.
Know your family history:
About 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary, resulting from variants in genes associated with cancer risk that are inherited from a parent. These variants are also referred to as “germline mutations.” The most common variants associated with hereditary breast cancer are found in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. These are the “tumor suppressor” genes that can be altered by many factors. Additionally, having a male family member who has had a history of breast, prostate, pancreatic, or colon cancer increases your risk. Having a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, particularly at younger ages, is associated with increased risk to have a heritable risk for cancer. Patients at Kaiser Permanente can complete an online Cancer Risk Screening E-visit to better understand their risk and get referred to a genetic counselor if further testing is recommended.
Talk with a genetic counselor: If you are worried about your risk of breast cancer due to family history, you may want to seek out genetic counseling. A genetic counselor can analyze your family history, assess the risk for a heritable cause, and help plan genetic testing and screening.
Family data is invaluable, particularly where there is a history of cancer. If family members who have had breast cancer or other types of cancer are willing to undergo genetic testing, the results of those tests will help paint a more complete picture for you. Abnormal variants among family members could indicate an increased risk of breast cancer. It’s important to remember that increased risk is not a diagnosis of cancer, but it will let you know if early screening is recommended and provide a personalized cancer screening plan for early cancer detection. Likewise, relatives will benefit from learning about your test results.
Get Your Screening: The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is at least 93% when caught early. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women start getting mammograms every other year at age 40. It’s important to talk with your doctor about screening options that match your risk. If you have received positive results from genetic testing, it’s important that you speak with your primary care provider or OB-GYN to discuss your personal schedule for routine breast cancer screenings. Your genetic counselor can share standard recommendations for screening based on the specific gene involved, along with your personal and family history.
At Kaiser Permanente, we have spearheaded new ways to make breast cancer screening faster, more convenient, and comfortable, resulting in better outcomes for our patients. In fact, breast cancer survival rates for both Black and white patients at Kaiser Permanente are significantly higher than national averages and show that the care we provide is helping to eliminate health disparities. All women eligible for a mammogram receive reminders when they visit any of our physicians. Additionally, Kaiser Permanente’s electronic medical record system allows us to deliver personalized reminders for mammograms and breast MRIs to women who have a non-standard risk for breast cancer. Mammograms are available at more than 30 of our local medical centers. Patients can easily schedule at a time and location of their choice and usually receive their results in less than an hour. And if a patient needs follow-up screening, we offer same and next day appointments whenever possible. More than 1,200 lives would be saved every year, if every provider screened patients for breast cancer at the same rate we do at Kaiser Permanente.
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, put your own breast health back at the top of your to-do list. Work with your health care team to further understand your personal risk factors, schedule routine doctor visits, and get your mammogram. By giving yourself the gift of preventive care, you can live a healthy, rewarding life.
Learn more about Kaier Permanente’s high-quality coordinated care from breast cancer survivor, Angela Crosson.
