Risk Assessments
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 Know your risk factors for breast cancer. There are many ways to predict your likelihood of developing breast cancer. Risk Assessment is the first step towards understanding your risk factors. Our team of physicians, nurse practitioners and other specialists can help you analyze your personal risk level and can make recommendations for genetic testing, lifestyle interventions, and/or increased surveillance.
The Breast Health Center offers Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling, Nutrition and Exercise Consulting, Chemoprevention, Increased Surveillance, Breast Self Exam Instruction, and Research. See "Types of Assessments" below to learn more about each component.
To make an appointment for a Risk Assessment with the Breast Health Center, please call us at (510) 869-8735.
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Types of Assessments
Risk Assessment Quiz
Risk Reduction
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Types of Assessments
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Risk Assessment: Get an expert assessment of your personal risk by scheduling an appointment in our Risk Assessment Program. At an appointment, you will complete our Risk Assessment Guide, your health history and your family health history with our Nurse Practitioner. The Nurse Practitioner performs a clinical breast examination using the Mammacare technique and reviews the proper breast self-examination techniques with you. If needed, the Nurse Practitioner shares your results with our surgeon who reviews the information with you, addressing any concerns about your clinical breast examination and provides recommendations for your care. You will also receive a hard copy of the results for your records. Any further consultations that you wish to pursue can be scheduled at that time. You will receive a summary of your risk of breast and other cancers, as well as recommendations for a schedule of future appointments, examinations, and recommendations to potentially reduce your risks.
Genetic Counseling: When you meet with a Genetic Counselor, they will review your personal health history and that of your family. The Genetic Counselor reviews any additional medical records, and prepares a "pedigree" of your family’s history of cancer. You then discuss the results of your counselling with our doctor and the Genetic Counselor. Based on your discussion, you may or may not decide to proceed with genetic testing or not. The Genetic Counselor helps you schedule the testing. Once the test results have been returned, you will meet with the Genetic Counselor and our doctor again to discuss your options.
Nutrition and Exercise Coaching: There have been many studies linking obesity to breast cancer risk. Diet and exercise play an important role in maintaining good health. Our nutrition experts will meet with you to discuss your current lifestyle and determine if changes might improve your overall health. They will develop a plan, and meet with you to monitor your progress.
Chemoprevention: There is evidence that tamoxifen and raloxifene may prevent some breast cancers in women at low or average risk for breast cancer. This is based on studies of women at higher risk. Our doctor can discuss the benefits and risks of these drugs with you to see if they may benefit your personal situation.
Increased Surveillance: If you are identified as being at high risk for breast cancer, you may wish to be followed more closely than someone who is not at such a high risk. This can involve additional clinical breast examinations with our Nurse Practitioner, and more frequent mammograms and/or MRI of the breasts.
Breast Self Exam Instruction: Our breast health Nurse Practitioner will teach you how to examine your breasts monthly, focusing on how to identify changes. She teaches the Mammacare method of self examination.
Research: There are many research studies that are interested in working with women who do, and who do not have breast cancer. At the time of your Risk Assessment, you will be assessed for eligibility for upcoming research studies.
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Risk Assessment Quiz
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Test your knowledge of Breast Cancer risk factors:
1) The most common risk factor for breast cancer is:
a) Age
b) Race
c) Gender
d) Alcohol consumption
2) Too much alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for breast cancer. The recommended amount of alcohol consumed on a daily basis is:
a) 1 glass or fewer per day
b) 5 glasses per day
c) 3 glasses per day
d) 2 or fewer glasses per day
3) True or False? Your risk is higher if you had your first period before age 12, began menopause after age 55, never had children, or had your first child after 30.
4) You can inherit the gene mutation that makes you more susceptible to breast cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2) from:
a) Your daughter
b) Your mother
c) Your father
d) Both answers b & c
5) True or False? If your mother, sister or daughter have had breast and/or ovarian cancer, you are at higher risk of developing breast cancer.
6) True or False? Smoking can increase your risk of getting cancer.
Quiz Answers
1) Answer: c
Just being born a woman is the biggest risk factor of all. Men do get breast cancer but it is a very small percentage. The second most common risk factor for breast cancer is age - your risk increases as you get older.
2) Answer: a
Consumption of more than 1 glass per day of alcohol has been identified as one of the common elements among women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
3) Answer: True
The fewer menstrual cycles, the less estrogen is produced. A higher level of estrogen production is know to make women more susceptible to breast cancer.
4) Answer: d
Even though it seems like the answer would be your mother, the gene can be passed on through either parent.
5) Answer: True
A family history of breast or ovarian cancer is another significant risk factor for developing breast cancer.
6) Answer: True
According to the American Cancer Society, smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body, is linked to at least 10 different cancers, and accounts for some 30% of all cancer deaths.
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Risk Reduction
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There are many ways to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.
1. Talk to your doctor about your use of oral contraceptives and hormonal therapy
2. Maintain your ideal weight
3. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
4. Exercise regularly
5. Eliminate tobacco use
6. Use alcohol in moderation
7. Get a professional Risk Assessment
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