Prevention & Screening

The goal of screening is to detect cancers at an early stage, before they are palpable and before they have spread. Mammography is the gold standard of breast screening. In use for over thirty years, mammography involves a series of x-rays of the breast. Mammography has been proven in randomized controlled trials to produce statistically significant reductions in death, and women over age 40 should have a screening mammogram every year.

At the Comprehensive Breast Center, we routinely provide more intensive screenings to women at higher risk for breast cancer. These may include mammograms, ultrasound, and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. Equally important preventive measures include breast self examination, as well as lifestyle changes such as a low fat diet and regular exercise which can help to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Click here to read more about the different types of breast imaging available

Through its Cancer Genetics Program, a program designed for women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer, the Comprehensive Breast Center also offers comprehensive cancer risk assessment focusing on family history and genetics, along with environmental and lifestyle factors, as well as genetic counseling and testing.

The Comprehensive Breast Center administers and researches a series of interventions, to prevent breast cancer. Its efforts are directed primarily at women who do not have cancer, but who are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. These include women with atypical ductal hyperplasia, or abnormal growth of the cells lining the milk ducts; lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS); a family history of breast cancer; and other risk factors.

For women with BRCA1/2 genetic mutations, stronger measures may be considered, including prophylactic surgery or ovary removal and tamoxifen therapy.