Breast Cancer Risk and Screening Guidelines Factsheet
Lifetime cancer risks (<70 yrs)
| Risk Level | Breast cancer | Ovarian cancer |
|---|---|---|
|
Average (general population) |
~8-12% |
~1-2% |
|
Moderate (familial) |
~15-25% |
~4-6% |
|
High (hereditary) |
> 40% |
> 15% (HBOC related risks) |
Screening Guidelines
Women at all risk levels should practice the following preventative behaviors:
- Breast self-awareness
- Healthy lifestyle
- Ovarian cancer symptom awareness
- Clinical breast exam
- Mammogram
Clinical breast exams and mammograms should be performed at different intervals depending on risk level, as indicated below.
Average Risk
- Clinical breast exam: every 1-3 years beginning at age 25
- Mammogram: at least every 2 years for ages 50-74; Shared decision making for ages 40-49
Moderate (Familial) Risk
- Clinical breast exam: annual or semi-annual from age 25
- Mammogram: annual from age 40 or 10 years before earliest family diagnosis
- Consider cancer genetic counseling
- Breast MRI
- Consider chemoprevention
High Risk
- Clinical breast exam: annual or semi-annual from age 25
- Mammogram: annual from age 25-30 or 10 years before earliest family diagnosis
- Cancer Genetic Counseling
- Breast MRI: Annual from age 25-30 or 10 years before earliest family diagnosis
- Consider chemoprevention
- Ovarian cancer screening via CA-125 and/or transvaginal ultrasound: Consider every 6 months from age 30 or 5-10 years before earliest family diagnosis if BSO not performed
- Consider prophylactic mastectomy
- Prophylactic bilateral salphino-oophorectomy (BSO): Ideally between 35-40 and upon completion of childbearing
Editor's Note
Developed by the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics.