Screening Recommendations for Higher-Than-Average Risk Breast Cancer Patients

Posted by Cancer Center at Wise Regional on February 26th, 2019

New guidelines for screening for breast cancer were released recently, recommending that women should undergo breast cancer risk assessment by the age of 30 years. This will identify those at high risk of developing breast cancer early in life.

The recommendation is essential for black women and those of Jewish origin who are at greater risk than the others from the general population.

The recommendations target particular subgroups to undergo annual breast MRI or other intensive screening as follows:

•    Women with a strong history of breast cancer in their families or those with a known breast cancer gene mutation like BRCA1 or BRCA2 should have a mammography screening at the age of 30 and MRI screening between age 25 and 30.

•    Women who have undergone chest radiation therapy before age 30 should start screening mammography eight years after the radiation treatment or at age 25. They should also have an annual supplemental screening for breast MRI.

•    The women who've dense breasts after taking mammography test and are diagnosed with breast cancer or those with breast cancer diagnosis before the age of 50 should have an annual breast MRI and screening mammography. Breast MRI’s should also be considered for those women who have a history of breast cancer and those with present precancerous cells after a biopsy. Ultrasound is also recommended for those who don’t qualify for MRI.

Early detection for breast cancer helps to reduce the rate of mortality in patients with breast cancer. Identifying women at high risk of the disease will help them get supplemental screening. It is also recommended that those women who are at average risk and without other risk factors should have an annual mammography screening at the age of 40. This is because statistics show that 75% of breast cancers are found in women who are at average risk of the disease.

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North Texas Cancer Center at Wise, a division of Choice Cancer Care, is now operating as the Cancer Center at Wise Regional and is one of the most renowned cancer treatment centers in Texas.