Sections View Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Annotate Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Supplementary Content +++ What are the recommendations for breast cancer screening? ++ Table Graphic Jump Location|Download (.pdf)|Print Key concept The average lifetime risk of breast cancer for a woman in the United States is estimated to be 12.3%. The mortality rate from breast cancer has decreased 38% from 1989 through 2014. This decrease has been partly attributed to mammographic screening. The components of a breast screening evaluation depend on age and on medical and family history. These can include breast awareness (patient familiarity with her breasts), clinical encounters (eg, breast cancer risk assessment and clinical breast exam), breast imaging with screening mammography, and, in selected cases, breast MRI. Patients are stratified into average or high risk groups (those with >20% lifetime risk) based on history and risk prediction tools. Clinical scenario A 31-year-old woman presents to establish her care with a primary care physician. She is worried about her risk of breast cancer due to her mother having had breast cancer at age 38 and her maternal aunt at age 42. She wants to know if she should do increased screening for breast cancer. Action items Major factors used to determine a risk category, based on a patient’s history, are: Personal history of ovarian, peritoneal (including tubal), or breast cancer Family history of breast, ovarian, or peritoneal cancer with lifetime risk of >20% as defined by models based on that history Genetic predisposition (if the patient’s BRCA or other genetic marker status is known) Radiotherapy to the chest between ages 10 and 30 years 5-year risk of invasive breast cancer >1.7% in women ≥35 years old, or ≥20% lifetime risk if personal history of lobular carcinoma in situ or breast abnormalities such as atypical ductal hyperplasia and atypical lobular hyperplasia Patients with any of the above factors are considered to be at increased lifetime risk for breast cancer. Patients with a family pedigree suggestive of a known genetic predisposition should be referred for genetic counseling and testing. If testing is negative, prediction models can be used to estimate lifetime risk and guide screening recommendations and start age. Discussion Average-risk screening recommendations per NCCN guidelines: Age 25–40: clinical encounter every 1–3 years and breast awareness Age >40: annual clinical encounter and screening mammogram with consideration of tomosynthesis and breast awareness Increased-risk screening recommendations: Depending on patient-specific risk factors, start age recommendations vary For family history–related risk, screening mammogram recommended to start 10 years younger than the youngest relative diagnosed with breast cancer (but not before age 30) and screening may include: More frequent clinical encounters every 6–12 months Consideration of yearly MRI in addition to screening mammogram (this can start as young as age 25, depending on the risk factor) Breast awareness Some patients with increased risk are candidates for risk reduction strategies (including risk-reducing agents and surgery) Pearls Only patients at very high risk, such as those with BRCA mutations, are considered for risk-reducing mastectomies and/or risk-reducing bilateral salpingoophorectomy References Siegel RL, ... Your Access profile is currently affiliated with [InstitutionA] and is in the process of switching affiliations to [InstitutionB]. Please select how you would like to proceed. Keep the current affiliation with [InstitutionA] and continue with the Access profile sign in process Switch affiliation to [InstitutionB] and continue with the Access profile sign in process Get Free Access Through Your Institution Learn how to see if your library subscribes to McGraw Hill Medical products. Subscribe: Institutional or Individual Sign In Error: Incorrect UserName or Password Username Error: Please enter User Name Password Error: Please enter Password Sign in Forgot Password? Forgot Username? Download the Access App: iOS | Android Sign in via OpenAthens Sign in via Shibboleth You already have access! Please proceed to your institution's subscription. Create a free profile for additional features.