CancerCARE News Archive Featured in the Media JeffNEWS

Recent reports from the American Cancer Society reveal that breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 40 and 55. And, this year, every three minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with the disease.

That is why Thomas Jefferson University’s Breast Cancer Prevention Program has as its mission to identify women at increased risk for breast cancer and to share with all women the importance of knowing their risk for the disease.

“Each year, researchers are learning more about the ways women may be able to reduce their risk for developing breast cancer,” says Bruce Boman, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Genetic and Preventive Medicine at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson’s Kimmel Cancer Center. “Identifying that a person is at increased risk for breast cancer and recommending strategies to prevent the disease or detect it at an early stage is one of the best ways to beat cancer,” he adds.

According to Dr. Boman, all women will benefit from an assessment to determine their individual risk for breast cancer.  Some factors that increase a women’s risk include:

• periods that begin early in a woman’s life
• late menopause
• abnormal breast biopsies
• one or more relatives with breast cancer
• having a first child after the age of 30

Women who are identified to be at high risk for breast cancer can especially benefit from screening and prevention services. At Jefferson’s Breast Cancer Prevention Program, people receive information on risk factors, screening and prevention including cancer prevention drugs and dietary recommendations. 
Women who are identified at risk for a hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome can be evaluated at the Jefferson Hereditary Cancer Center. Those genetic risk factors include individuals with:

• breast cancer diagnosed at an early age (before age 50)
• a family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• ovarian cancer
• more than one breast cancer
• Ashkenazi Jewish descent who have a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer

The Jefferson Hereditary Cancer Center offers risk assessment, genetic counseling and gene testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome as well as other hereditary cancers. In the detailed process of genetic counseling, a person’s medical and family history are carefully evaluated and the risk for carrying a hereditary breast cancer trait is assessed. Based on the individual’s risk for hereditary breast cancer, genetic testing might then be recommended. Cancer screening guidelines are provided for each individual and their family members.  At-risk family members are also offered the option to be seen in the Center. 

Everyone who is seen in the Jefferson Hereditary Cancer Center is offered the opportunity to participate in the Jefferson Hereditary Cancer Registry to help track relevant data on inherited cancers. “It is clear that a patient with a personal or family history of hereditary cancer has an increased risk for developing cancer compared to the average population,” explains Dr. Boman, who is also professor of Medicine and of Immunology and Microbiology at Jefferson Medical College.

“The purpose of the Registry is to gain information about this select group of people to enable clinicians to understand more about cancer risk. In this way we can better learn how to screen for, prevent and treat hereditary breast cancer, as well as learn new ways to manage the disease,” he says.

All individuals who are seen in the Breast Cancer Prevention Program receive information about clinical research trials in cancer prevention at Jefferson. These trials may be for breast and ovarian cancer screening or to see if particular drugs are effective in the battle against the disease. The Program also offers many educational programs for patients and their family members, the general community and individuals who are training for various health professions.

To learn more about breast cancer risk assessment, hereditary breast cancer, genetics counseling and cancer prevention strategies, or to make an appointment at Jefferson’s Breast Cancer Prevention Program, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.