What You Need To Know
We’re excited to share that Hackensack Meridian Health now offers a breast cancer risk assessment as part of a patient’s visit for mammography. This investment throughout our network reinforces our commitment to early breast cancer detection. It provides a more personalized, tailored approach to screening, and helps identify individuals who are at high risk for breast cancer and those who may benefit from genetic counseling.
Risk assessment starting at age 25-30 is supported by multiple medical organizations including the American Cancer Society, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Society of Breast Imaging and the National Consortium of Breast Surgeons. Research has shown that up to 10 percent of cancers are due to factors that are passed from one generation to the next. There are genetic tests that can be used to determine an individual’s risk for developing these hereditary cancers. Our new risk assessment tool will provide risk stratification for all patients, enabling us to create personalized breast care plans.
The Process for Patients
All patients receiving services at the breast imaging centers at Palisades Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, Bayshore Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center, JFK University Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge Medical Center, HUMC Center for Wellness-Maywood and Hackensack Meridian Health & Wellness Center at Eatontown are now asked to complete a risk assessment questionnaire either in the office or online in advance of their mammogram appointment. We will communicate this information to each patient in our mammography reminder letters and as they call to schedule mammograms. Patients are asked specific, personal questions about their family history of cancer, reproductive history, lifestyle, height and weight, history of prior breast biopsies and ancestry. (Please note that patients with a history of breast cancer, a known mutation, over 80 years old, and men will not receive a risk assessment.)
Providing Results to Referring Physicians
You will find your patient’s risk information in the mammography report along with her personalized recommendation.
Our risk assessment is calculated using the Tyrer Cuzick Version 8 (TC8), which is the standard of care across many imaging departments. The current recommendation for women at high risk of developing breast cancer is as follows:
- High risk is defined as a risk score of more than 20%. High-risk patients are recommended to receive a care plan that includes supplemental screening, and depending on their family history, genetic testing to learn if they carry a genetic mutation.
We believe offering a robust breast cancer risk assessment will facilitate early diagnoses and improve disease management. We thank you for your support and reiterate our continued commitment to providing high-quality, personalized breast care for your patients. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our breast imaging teams with questions.