BREAST CANCER RISK ASSESSMENT
This service is about providing an individualized breast cancer riskmeasurement to women who have not been affected by breast cancer (BC).
This service applies to women who are:
• Anxious about risk of BC and may want to start screening mammograms early
• Family history of BC
• About to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) but have reservations about BC risk
Many years of research in the causes of BC have now enable breast clinicians to measure of breast cancer risk very accurately.
BC can develop from numerous factors (causes). In most cases, it is the combined effect of several factors that eventually lead to the development of BC later in life. These factors include:
• Family/Hereditary predisposition
• Breast density
• Lifestyle such as body mass index (BMI)
• Reproductive history
• Breast density
• Lifestyle such as body mass index (BMI)
• Reproductive history
Mr Chong uses the ‘Tyrer-CuzickBreast Cancer Risk Calculator’ which is the most advanced evidence-based algorithms to date.
How is it done?
Mr Chong will take a detailed family history of cancers, reproductive history and your height and weight. This can be performed face-to-face or via virtual consultation.
A mammogram will need to be performed to measure your breast (mammographic) density by using an advanced software. Alternatively, your recent mammogram from elsewhere can be transferred over to perform this step.
The information is entered into the algorithm, analyzed and the patients BC risk
results are presented as follows:
results are presented as follows:
For patients who want in increase the accuracy of their risk assessment even further, Mr Chong can arrange to carry out an easy to use at-home DNA saliva test to check for Single Nucleotide Polypeptides (SNPs) at extra cost. An SNP test is genetic test that detects changes in a person’s DNA that might indicate increased risk of BC. This is slightly different from a single gene mutation.This information can use to increase the accuracy of the BR risk calculator even further but is purely optional.
What happens after I know my results?
Knowledge is power!
For most patients, they will be relieved that their BC risk is low. That knowledge will reassure them that it is safe enough to start HRT.
For those with slightly high risk, Mr Chong will enrol you to start mammogram screening earlier so as to monitor for BC. He will also provide clear recommendation on lifestyle changes (evidence-based) that can help reduce BC risk.
Those with high risk might be recommended for gene testing and risk reduction using daily Tamoxifen (chemoprevention).
All this information may sound daunting. However, Mr Chong has an exceptional experience on this subject and will guide patients to help them reduce their BC risk.
If you would like to make an appointment to see Mr Chong, please contact his Personal Assistant