High Risk Breast Surveillance at Montclair Breast Center, Montclair, New Jersey
Physician's Assistant discusses risk assessment with a patient.
We recognize that many women at increased risk for breast cancer experience high levels of anxiety. Our goal is to replace this fear with the peace of mind that comes with taking a proactive approach to breast health.
We evaluate all your risk factors with the aid of statistical models. For women with a strong family history, genetic counseling is available with our on-site genetic counselor. Using this information, we customize a detailed program of prevention and early detection strategies for each individual patient.
In the past several years we have established ways to reduce breast cancer risk and detect cancer at earlier stages. Among the approaches recommended are surgical prevention, chemoprevention and increased surveillance.
Candidates for chemoprevention with Tamoxifen are identified and we discuss the individual risk/benefit ratios with each patient. Alternative medicine and nutritional referrals are made when appropriate. Managing women at high-risk includes thorough clinical breast examination, digital mammography, whole breast ultrasound, and increasingly breast MRI.
We empower our patients with understanding and a prevention plan, thereby significantly decreasing the anxiety associated with being labeled "high risk."
Articles of interest
The North American Menopause Society; The North American Menopause Society NAMS Issues New Recommendations Regarding Management of Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women
Women's Health Weekly, 17 July 2008