Published on September 04, 2024

Am I High Risk?

ladies of varied ages dressed in pink wearing pink ribbons

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer without any predisposing factor.

Odds are, you know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during her lifetime. Breast cancer screening is important for all women, but it is even more important for those women who are considered to be high risk for developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer screening is recommended to begin at age 40 for all women, unless your mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. If so, screening begins 10 years prior to your mom's diagnosis or age 40, whichever comes first.

While it is true that mostly women are affected by breast cancer, do not forget that men may also be affected. The average lifetime risk for men of getting breast cancer is less than 1%. Men who develop breast lumps should seek medical evaluation; men who have a strong family history or other risk factors should discuss it with their health care provider.

Am I high risk?

When you undergo breast cancer screening, we will ask you a series of questions related to breast health that includes personal and family history.

At NMHS, a Tyer Cusick (TC) risk assessment model is used to calculate your risk. An elevated TC score of 20% or greater is considered high risk. The following risk factors may increase your risk for breast cancer:

  • Personal history of benign and/or atypical findings in breast
  • Family history of breast cancer
  • Personal and/or family history of ovarian cancer
  • Positive genetic testing

Now what?

Patients who are identified as high risk qualify for more frequent breast imaging.

3D mammography provides a more thorough assessment for women with dense breast tissue and detects breast cancer at the earliest point possible.

Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to detect abnormalities in the breast that might not be found on a mammogram.

We will recommend that you have a 3D mammogram and breast MRI every year. These are alternated so that you have some form of imaging at least every six months.

Other forms of imaging, such as automated whole breast ultrasound (ABUS), may be recommended as an alternative to MRI in some patients.

Take the Next Step

If you are at high risk for developing breast cancer, it is important to talk with your doctor about a care plan that is right for you. North Mississippi Health Services offers a high-risk breast clinic at the Breast and General Surgery Clinic in Tupelo. If you are interested in high-risk screening, call (662) 377-8025 to see if you qualify.

Breast cancer screening is even more important for certain women