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Second to skin cancer, breast cancer affects more women than any other type of cancer. Each year, more than 180,000 women learn they have breast cancer. While the exact causes are unknown, we do know that factors such as family history, age and race influence the occurrence of breast cancer. The UMass Memorial Comprehensive Breast Center offers the region's only specialized program to help identify and monitor women at high risk for developing breast cancer. Early identification of risk allows a woman and her physician to work together to create an appropriate screening regimen for breast cancer detection. Early detection is key to successful treatment and a positive outcome.
Women and their family members concerned about breast cancer can receive an evaluation by a team of breast cancer specialists. The High-risk Breast Cancer Screening Program offers:
- Clinical prevention trials
- Genetic counseling and education about breast cancer risk
- Personalized risk assessment
- Preventative agents
- Screening tests
Women are usually referred to the High-risk Breast Cancer Screening Program by their primary care physician or obstetrician/gynecologist but they may self-refer.
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