Those with dense breast tissue are the ones that benefit the most. Now in Texas it is law that you be told if you have dense breast tissue so you can then discuss with your doctor who ordered the mammogram what to do next. We have made special arrangements to do full breast ultrasounds for those women with dense breast tissue.
The BREVAGen Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Test is particularly beneficial for women, over 35 years, with prolonged estrogen exposure, whether her own or hormone replacement. That group includes: early first menstrual cycle, late menopause, no full term pregnancy or first pregnancy after 30 years, high BMI, increased breast density, high bone mineral density. I encourage it for any woman considering hormone replacement. Any woman who has had a breast biopsy should also consider getting the BREVAGen to help determine her risk.
The HALO is particularly beneficial in younger women, 21 to 35 years. I offer it to the daughters of all breast cancer survivor mothers.
To put these three words into clinical practice, I remember:
- density: on the mammogram report
- BREVAGen: prolonged estrogen exposure
- HALO: before mammogram age
Performing additional studies in women with dense breast tissue not only allows us to find cancers that the mammogram can't find, but smaller tumors and even precancerous conditions that may be treated so that cancer can be avoided.
For the most common kind of breast cancer, the BREVAGen and HALO are the best breast cancer risk assessment tests we have. Just like treating people with high blood pressure or high LDL cholesterol to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, we are given the opportunity to stop the process that may lead to cancer. Imagine, getting to the cancer before it ever happens!
Together we can prevent 75,000 breast cancer cases each year!
This content is general medical information and not personal medical advice.
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