Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program

The average woman in the U.S. has a 12 percent lifetime risk for breast cancer. Each year more than 180,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer. Many of these women wonder if they are in the 10 percent that have a hereditary form of the disease. Of those women who have family histories, most tend to overestimate their breast cancer risk and may be needlessly anxious.

Bryn Mawr Hospital's Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program accurately evaluates your risk factors for breast cancer in an effort to determine your lifetime breast cancer risk by evaluating both your family profile and the well-defined National Cancer Institute risk factors. You will gain an understanding about what it means to be at average, moderate or high risk for developing breast cancer. With this knowledge, you will be able to make informed healthcare decisons regarding breast cancer risk.

How the Program Works

Program participants meet with a registered nurse to receive breast self-exam instruction and with a certified genetic counselor to discuss breast-cancer risk factors, a personalized risk profile, risk-appropriate screening guidelines and risk-reduction options. Individuals with personal and/or family cancer histories suggestive of an inherited predisposition are offered genetic counseling and genetic testing when appropriate. A medical oncologist and an outpatient oncology social worker are available to participants as necessary.

Who Can Participate

The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program is open to any person concerned about the risk of breast cancer. Individuals who may be particularly interested are those with the following risk factors:

• Personal history of early onset breast cancer (before age 50)
• Personal or family history of breast cancer
• Personal or family history of ovarian cancer
• Personal or family history of male breast cancer

Contact Us

For more information on the Bryn Mawr Hospital Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program, or to schedule an appointment, please call 484-476-8150.