Assessing Your Breast Cancer Risk
Researchers have developed a new model to determine if you face an increased risk of breast cancer. They define “increased risk” as a 2 percent chance of developing breast cancer over the next five years. Taking Tamoxifen might reduce that risk for women who meet the criteria — so this assessment is worth considering.
Using data from the WHI study (Women’s Health Initiative), a 15-year research program involving 161,808 postmenopausal women and funded by the National Institutes of Health, the researchers found postmenopausal women were at an “increased risk” of developing breast cancer if they were:
- 55 years of age or older and had either had a breast biopsy at any time, regardless of findings, or had a first-degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) who had breast cancer diagnosed at any age.
The article, entitled “Predicting Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women by Hormone Receptor Status,” appears in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Here’s the reported story where I read it at Science Daily.
Once again, I feel like I’m in a quandary. I think it is important for women to consider their risk for this disease. But I HATE that studies focus on older women. Haven’t we heard enough stories of young women getting this disease to realize that we have to study the younger populations more? Didn’t the researchers read “Nordie’s at Noon”? Don’t they know that 55 is often too late to worry about risk, that women should consider their risk when they are much younger?
It’s that postmenopausal thing — they have the numbers to be included in research studies. But premenopausal women — there just isn’t great research there.
Anyway, if you are a postmenopausal woman who fits the criteria and is at increased risk, consult your doctor about the benefit of taking Tamoxifen. Weigh the risks against the benefits. If you are premenopausal … nudge your doctors to take any questions or concerns you have seriously and ask them to share with you what research they do have for women your age. Be your own advocate.
cancer, breast cancer, WHI, Tamoxifen, Nordies at Noon, Premenopausal, Postmenopausal
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:32 am
http://www.capturecancer.com/treatment-options-breast-cancer.html
Mammograms are routinely prescribed by women’s physicians as a means of early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Doctors are persistent in this recommendation because breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women after lung cancer. With early diagnosis and treatment, 97% of women […]