If you have a family history or previous history of breast cancer, had an early age of first menses, pregnancy after age 30, or no pregnancies, you may be at high risk of developing breast cancer. There are nearly 200,000 new cases of breast cancer each year…but early detection can dramatically improve survival rate.

With the growing number of risk factors that predispose women to breast cancer, University Hospital's Barrett Cancer Center has opened a high risk breast cancer clinic for patients considered to be at high risk. This is one of only two programs of its kind in the Tristate.

The intent of the clinic is to offer women who qualify an all-inclusive program that consists of early detection services, surveillance, and access to education and clinical trials. The clinic will incorporate the use of mammography and/or ultrasound, frequent breast exams, education, preventive therapies, and collaboration with the Hereditary Cancer Program to provide genetic counseling and/or testing.

The clinic is also the only one in the Tristate to offer ductal lavage, a minimally invasive method of collecting cells from a woman's breast to detect for abnormal cells. Ductal lavage is an office-based procedure that provides information about breast cancer risk that is unique to each woman. This information, along with mammograms and physical breast exam, provide information concerning breast health, which then gives rise to preventive therapies.

If you think you may be at high risk for breast cancer and would like to find out, please call the High Risk Breast Clinic at The Barrett Cancer Center at 513-584-8900 to speak with an Advance Practice Nurse. You can also visit www.breastcancerprevention.org to take an online risk assessment. However, it is always best to see a medical professional, because those at high risk aren't just those who qualify per the assessment.

The clinic is managed by advance practice nurses, Gina Greathouse, R.N., C.N.P., and Amy Voris, R.N., O.C.N., with oversight from Elizabeth Shaughnessy, M.D., surgical oncologist with UC Surgeons.

• Women who have their first menses before age 12 have a one – two times higher risk.
• Women who have their first full-term pregnancy after age 30 have a 1.4 times higher risk.
• Women with a first degree relative with breast cancer have a two – three times gher risk.
• Women with a personal history of breast cancer have a four times higher risk.
• Women with pre-malignant changes on a previous biopsy have a four – five times higher risk
• Women who have a combination of family history and cellular atypia have up to a ten times higher risk.

(Information provided by Cytyc Corporation)