Why it’s Essential to Know the Breast Cancer Risk

Understanding your risk of breast cancer will help you make informed decisions about your health. They can endanger factors that can be minimized or eliminated. Other risk factors cannot be controlled. It is recommended that women with an average risk of developing breast cancer at the age of 40 years have an annual mammogram. If you are at high risk, you may need to take additional measures to detect breast cancer and preventive treatment. Understand your risks and understand what it means to help you understand the risks and benefits of the tests and preventive measures that your doctor can evaluate and make informed decisions about your treatment.

Understanding the risk of breast cancer

The risk of breast cancer is expressed in two different ways. The absolute risk is the probability that after a while a woman will become infected with breast cancer. Relative risk, complete risk groups with specific risk factors and without comparison. For example, the total risk of developing breast cancer is usually 12.3%, but a woman's absolute risk varies according to risk factors, such as genetic predisposition, personal medical history or alcohol consumption. Relative risk helps women and their caregivers understand the consequences of individual risk factors that affect women's health. If a woman has a high risk of developing breast cancer, your doctor may recommend other methods of prevention and early detection.

Information is collected from patients to determine the risk of breast cancer using the Tyrer-Kuzhik model, a tool to calculate the risk of developing breast cancer in a woman. The Tyrer Cuzick model takes into account the following factors:

•        Age

•        Body mass index (BMI)

•        Family history

•        The period in the menarche, first live birth and menopause

•        use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Magnetic resonance of the mammary glands

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) recommend additional evaluations for women with an absolute risk of developing breast cancer at the age of 20% or more, depending on individual factors. The organization assumes that women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes or genetic mutations in the first degree with any of these mutations have other genetic predispositions or radiation therapy for 10-30 years, breast MRI, more on their annual mammogram. 

Genetic test

Some women who are at higher risk of developing breast cancer because of their family history may be referred to a genetic counselor by a geneticist. If a geneticist suspects there is a suspicion of a mutation in the BRCA gene, he may recommend a genetic test. For each woman, it is essential to perform a genetic analysis based on the full geneticist's information to understand the benefits, costs 

and limitations of these tests.

Chemoprevention

Many medications can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women. The use of drugs in this way is called chemoprophylaxis. These medications can have serious side effects, any woman who wishes to contact her doctor to ensure that she is a suitable candidate for prevention and that she has a thorough knowledge of the risks and possible benefits.

Preventive mastectomy

If a woman has a very high risk of breast cancer, her doctor can offer a preventive mastectomy. The elimination of both mammary glands before the diagnosis of the disease can increase the risk of developing breast cancer to 97%. Some women who develop breast cancer decide to suppress further prophylactic. For more click here.