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VIDEO: Family history critical in assessing breast cancer risk

PHILADELPHIA — Obtaining a good family history is extremely important for primary care physicians in order to evaluate a patient’s risk for breast cancer, according to a presenter at ACP Internal Medicine Meeting.

PCPs should look at three generations — parents, siblings and children — and focus on both the maternal and paternal sides, Lynn Henry, MD, PhD, breast medical oncologist at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, told Healio Primary Care Today.

“Breast cancer screening remains a very controversial area,” she said.

Health care associations conflict on whether breast cancer screening should start at age 40 years or at age 50 years, Henry noted. The ACP currently recommends that breast cancer screening starting at age 50 for most women, she said.

“I encourage you to look at the new guidelines and make a decision for yourself for what you are going to offer for your individual patients because it is certainly not yet clear cut,” Henry said.

Henry also discussed genetic testing, breast cancer survivorship and pregnancy after breast cancer. – by Alaina Tedesco

Disclosure: Henry reports receiving research grants from AbbVie, Innocrin Pharma and Pfizer.