By Ashley Hendrix, MD, FACS
Breast cancer awareness truly can be lifesaving. It encourages women to get their mammograms, be aware of changes in their breasts, and take steps to manage their risk.
Some patients can get even more information using the power of their DNA. Genetic counseling and testing can help high-risk breast cancer patients be proactive about prevention, detection, and surveillance — for themselves and their families.
As a breast surgical oncologist and member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network panel that establishes genetic testing guidelines for breast cancer patients, I see firsthand how genetic counseling and testing can help women take charge of their health.
Breast cancer is one of several types of cancer that can be hereditary, or passed down from family, due to genetic mutations.
Your genes are responsible for everything from your appearance to how your body works.
If you inherit a faulty tumor suppressor gene, it can increase your potential for developing cancer and having cancer at a younger age. It doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get cancer, but you might want to consider options to manage your higher risk.
That’s where Regional One Health Cancer Care’s high-risk breast cancer clinic can help.
We start by getting a detailed medical history. You can expect your first visit to take about an hour, and your provider will ask about your family’s cancer history going back at least three generations and review your personal health history and risk factors.
We use the National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria to determine if you qualify for genetic testing. If you do, blood will be drawn and sent to a genetic testing lab.
Results usually come back in two to four weeks. Then, your team meets with you to discuss managing your risk and what it means for your family.
Some patients must start screening mammograms when they are younger and have them more often. Breast MRI screening is another option.
Other patients can benefit from preventative therapies.
Medications like Tamoxifen and PARP inhibitors can help reduce your cancer risk. You can also opt for a prophylactic mastectomy — as many people remember, actress Angelina Jolie spoke about having this surgery after discovering she carries the BRCA1 gene.
These are very personal decisions, and we support you in making the right choice for you. We also discuss how this impacts your family. If you have a genetic mutation, it can lead to cascade testing of children, parents, siblings, and other relatives.
Genetic counseling and testing can be highly beneficial for breast cancer patients.
For some people, it provides peace of mind thanks to a negative test. For others, it’s a chance to make informed decisions for themselves and their family.
We are proud to expand access to this type of care. It is estimated that 90 percent of mutation carriers remain unidentified, so genetic testing gives us an astounding opportunity to impact the screening and detection of cancer.
LEARN MORE!
Breast surgical oncologist Dr. Ashley Hendrix sees patients at Regional One Health Cancer Care. Along with the high-risk breast clinic, Regional One Health has genetic counseling clinics for pancreatic, colorectal, gynecologic, and melanoma cancers.
Patients can self-refer, and the clinics see patients with and without a cancer diagnosis. They are located at our Main Campus, 880 Madison Ave., and East Campus, 6555 Quince Rd. Call 901.515.HOPE (4673) for appointments.
