Breast Cancer Risk Assessment, Education and Genetic Counseling

Our multi-phased approach begins with an easy-to-fill-out breast cancer risk assessment survey that calculates risk through a series of questions about your personal background and family history. You will complete this survey electronically at your scheduled visit.

The survey addresses:

• Personal medical history
• Family history
• Reproductive history
• Lifestyle habits, including diet and exercise
• Hormone use

Results of this questionnaire are tabulated by specialized software and analyzed by your team of breast cancer specialists who will discuss the findings with you in person. You will learn about your level of risk and how it impacts choices about your health.

Next-step recommendations may involve:

• Genetic counseling and testing
• Risk-tailored screenings including more frequent breast exams and enhanced breast imaging
• Risk-reducing strategies including diet, exercise and lifestyle choices as well as medication and surgical options

If it is determined that you are at an increased risk for developing breast cancer, we will invite you to take part in an in-depth screening program tailored just for you. Learn more about our breast cancer risk-tailored screenings.

Women who discover that they are not at increased risk following our initial assessment will return to their healthcare providers reassured and better educated about breast health.

Your doctors and healthcare professionals in the B-PREP Program will educate you about breast cancer and the many variables that affect your risk of developing the disease. They will talk to you about:

• Healthy lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise
• Medications to reduce breast cancer
• Effective self-examination techniques
• Genetic counseling and testing
• Accessing psychologists and social workers trained in working with at-risk cancer patients
• Accessing clinical trials
• Accessing services for medical conditions that increase your risk, such as the Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery for obese patients
• Accessing complementary therapies through the Leonard Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at BWH.

If appropriate, our breast specialists will discuss medications that reduce the risk of breast cancer as well as risk-reducing surgeries such as prophylactic mastectomy.