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• a personal history of prior breast cancer • a mother, sister, daughter, or two or more close relatives, such as cousins, with a history of breast cancer, especially if diagnosed at a young age • a diagnosis of lobular carcinoma in situ or atypical duct hyperplasia (which may predispose you to breast cancer), breast conditions that may predispose you to breast cancer, or a history of two or more breast biopsies for benign breast disease • evidence of a specific genetic change that increases susceptibility to breast cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations) • If you are age 45 or older and have at least 75 percent dense tissue on a mammogram, you are at some increased risk. • A slight increase in risk for breast cancer is associated with having a first birth at age 30 or older. • If you have had chest irradiation for conditions such as Hodgkin’s disease at age 30 or younger, you are at higher risk for breast cancer throughout your life. Genetic Testing and Counseling Services Scientists have identified more than 200 mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that cause an inherited risk of breast cancer. If you are at high risk for breast cancer because of a genetic link to the disease, you may choose to undergo genetic testing at The Betty Torricelli Institute for Breast Care. Patients first meet with a breast specialist to discuss risks and benefits of the testing, as well as undergo an evaluation by a genetic counselor to assess a patient’s genetic predisposition to breast cancer. Following testing, we offer genetic counseling to help patients understand their results. The High-Risk Program The Betty Torricelli Institute for Breast Care conducts a program for women who are at increased risk for developing breast cancer. Individuals are evaluated using several methods for determining risk, and these results and a personalized breast health plan are formulated. Individuals are included in a high-risk registry and are invited to participate in support groups and educational programs. The New York Breast Cancer Study Hackensack University Medical Center is collaborating with several medical centers in the metropolitan area in the New York Breast Cancer Study. Funded by the National Cancer Institute and several private foundations, this project is studying genetic and environmental influences on breast cancer among women of Jewish ancestry. The New York Breast Cancer Study is investigating the role that mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes play in the development of breast cancer in women of Jewish Ashkenazi ancestry. The goal is to learn more about how BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations impact breast cancer and how they might be influenced by a woman’s lifestyle and environment. The study is also looking to estimate risks of breast and ovarian cancer among female relatives with these mutations. Prior to testing, all study enrollees are interviewed by Sivya Twersky, M.S., genetic counselor at Hackensack University Medical Center. Blood samples are then taken and analyzed. To assess environmental factors, researchers review each participant’s family and reproductive histories, lifestyle, and history of environmental exposures. Participants can choose whether or not to receive their test results. If a woman chooses to learn them, she meets with Ms. Twersky to discuss the implications of the results. If an inherited mutation is identified, a woman’s relatives are also invited to participate. Women who are of Jewish ancestry and have been diagnosed with breast cancer at Hackensack University Medical Center from 1995 to 2000 are eligible to participate in the study. A family history of cancer is not a pre-requisite. For more information about the New York Breast Cancer Study, call Ms. Twersky in the Department of Genetics at (201) 996-5264. |
