Assessing risk of breast cancer

PREVIEW

At some point in their life, many women start to wonder, Am I at high risk for breast cancer? Although their fears are not unfounded, many younger women overestimate their current risk. By assessing a patient's individual risk, physicians can help allay her fears, talk specifically about her odds, and advise her about recent advances in breast cancer management that may help lower her risk. In this article, Dr Vogel reviews the evidence regarding risk factors for breast cancer and describes the available tools for assessing risk in individual patients.