Are you at Risk for Breast Cancer?
While all women are at risk, some are at increased risk due to family history or previous cancer.
An ounce of prevention, the old saying goes, is worth a pound of cure. While there is no vaccine or "magic bullet" cure for breast cancer, early detection gives the best chance for successful treatment and cure since the cancer is detected before it has spread to other parts of the body.
While the cause of breast cancer is still unknown, there are some risk factors that increase your chances of developing breast cancer. One indication of increased risk is breast cancer in another family member - in a woman's mother, sister or daughter. Also, in recent years, research has identified other risk factors that suggest the need for a closer look and more frequent monitoring for some women.
This heightened awareness and attention to early detection is the basis of Kapi'olani's new High Risk Breast Program. This latest addition to Kapi'olani's all encompassing program is vital to its mission, to identify cancer early. It is the first high risk program of its kind in Hawaii and represents the state-of-the-art approach found in most breast centers across the United States.
The special monitoring program also provides women with peace of mind and the satisfaction of knowing they are taking all reasonable steps to manage their risk. The program encompasses imaging services, physician and nursing services, genetic counseling and testing, nutritional counseling, psychological counseling, education and research.
To qualify, a woman must have at least one of the following risk factors: a first degree relative (mother, father, daughter, sister) or multiple second-degree relatives (first cousin, aunt, uncle, grandparents) with breast cancer; any family history of ovarian cancer; a previous breast biopsy showing signs of atypical (abnormal appearing) cells, which are not cancer but need to be closely followed. Upon entering the program, the woman will complete a detailed questionnaire about her family health history and then will get a physical exam. She will then be assessed as to her specific risk and work with the team to develop a monitoring plan.
"What we're doing is offering women who are at high risk for one reason or another an intensive surveillance program," says oncologist Ian Okazaki, M.D., who is leading the program. "The idea behind this is to find breast cancer early."
The Breast Center also has plans underway to offer other advanced diagnostic tests. And women with breast cancer will be eligible to take part in clinical drug trials offered in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute and the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii.
While essential, early detection and treatment are only two facets of this unique initiative. The comprehensive program is also based on the knowledge that women can also benefit from proper nutrition, exercise, stress reduction and just knowing they have a place to get answers and guidance from peers and professionals alike.
"Ours is a multidisciplinary clinic," says Terri Imada, the program's nurse practitioner. Imada has a strong background in breast health and will be coordinating all aspects of the program. "It's great for patients because it's an integrated approach, everything women need to maximize their breast health," says Imada.
Patients will have the opportunity to meet with a genetics professional to help determine if they have inherited genetic risk factors. If indicated, further evaluation can be done for the two genes associated with inherited breast cancer, and involves a simple blood test.
The High Risk Breast Program is an ounce of prevention that can go a long way in fighting breast cancer. For further information, call 535-7000.
Kapi'olani Breast Center
1907 South Beretania Street, 5th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96826
Phone: 808-973-5967
Appointments: 808-535-7000.