But, you ask, "WHY DO I WANT TO KNOW MY RISK?

That has been one of the comments I've seen and heard in response to recent blogs about breast cancer risk assessment tools (HALO, BREVAGen and BRACAnalysis).

BECAUSE we can do something about it!  

Each of us doesn't want to get cancer and some don't want to know anything about risk.  But, if you are one of those that wants to better understand your risk of getting breast cancer, then we can help.  Using the results of these tests we can design a breast health plan for you.

We have reviewed, in recent and past blogs, which test might benefit which person.  A way to make sense of all the tests:

• HALO for anyone 21 years to menopause
• BRACAnalysis for anyone with a strong, young, or male family history
• BREVAGen for anyone else 35 years who wants to know her risk

The HALO may find changes in the breast ductal cells that are thought to be precursors of cancer, long before cancer occurs (8 years in some studies) http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-good-news-about-halo-test.html.  

The BRCAnalysis detects mutations in genes that cause hereditary breast cancer.  See yesterday's post.

The BREVAGen helps uncover unsuspected risk for estrogen dependent cancers, which are the most common kind http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/07/even-better-news-about-brevagen-test.html.

We will review the breast health plan options dictated by the results of the tests in future blogs, from lifestyle changes to prescription drugs, from increased surveillance to surgery. 

For now, BE LEAN, BE ACTIVE and REGULARLY EXERCISE.

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This content is general information and not personal medical advice.