Breast Cancer Assessment

What is a breast cancer assessment?

A breast cancer assessment determines your risk of developing breast cancer. Assessments are a part of your well-woman care with Dr. Amersi, as she focuses on a holistic, whole-woman approach to health and wellness.

Why is a breast cancer assessment necessary?

Breast health is an area of significant concern for women because it’s among the most common kinds of cancer in females, second only to skin cancer. About 12½% of women develop invasive breast cancer at some point in their lives.

Breast cancer can be deadly — but it’s also treatable. If caught in the localized stage (before it spreads to other parts of the body), breast cancer has a better than 99% survival rate.

A breast cancer assessment identifies your risk level and determines if you might need further testing, including cancer genetic testing. This evaluation can lead to the earliest possible diagnosis, meaning that you can take control of your health and start treatment right away.

What happens during a breast cancer assessment?

A breast cancer assessment involves evaluating the many areas that could affect your breast cancer risk. The most common method of breast cancer risk assessment is the Gail Model.

The Gail Model involves examining your personal history and medical information to evaluate your risk. Dr. Amersi considers:

• Your age
• Age when you started menstruation
• Whether you have first-degree relatives with breast cancer (mother, sisters, or children)
• Age when you had your first baby (if you’ve given birth)
• How many breast biopsies you’ve had in the past (regardless of results)
• Whether a prior breast biopsy revealed abnormalities

Dr. Amersi will consider additional breast cancer risk factors. For example, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) lists additional risk factors like a history of dense breast tissue on mammograms, taking hormone replacement therapy, smoking, carrying extra weight, and others.

Dr. Amersi carefully considers these factors to determine your risk of developing breast cancer. She could recommend cancer genetic testing to get a detailed look at your genetics. This testing can find genetic mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer.

Call Shamsah Amersi, MD, now or click on the online booking feature to schedule your visit with Dr. Amersi.