From The Ohio State University

Women at increased risk of developing breast cancer rely on clinical examination, radiographic studies (e.g., mammo-gram, ultrasound, and MRI), biopsy, and genetic tests to predict their per-sonal risk of breast cancer. Providers also use information such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, age at which a relative’s (or one’s own) di-agnosis occurred, age at menarche/ menopause, and age at first birth (Cyr et al., 2011). These factors may identify women at increased risk, though an in-dividual factor or cumulative factors cannot accurately predict the absolute risk or occurrence of breast cancer. Preventative measures for breast cancer include restriction of exogenous hormones, removal of endogenous hormone sources (e.g., bilateral oo-phorectomy), administration of selec-tive estrogen receptor modulators (e.g., tamoxifen or raloxifene), and prophy-lactic bilateral mastectomy. When any of these intervention(s) are chosen, it remains unknown whether the individ-ual’s chosen intervention(s) will be sig-nificant and effective for her over time. It is certain that some women at high risk take no action and do not develop breast cancer, while other women “do it all ” and still ultimately develop a local o