High risk breast cancer program

Only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are due to known genetic factors. That means that the majority of breast cancers are, in fact, not inherited. But if breast cancer runs in your family, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center’s High Risk Breast Program can help evaluate your risk. Our clinic is the only one of its kind in the Richmond area staffed by board-certified genetic counselors. Our clinic provides genetic testing and counseling to help individuals evaluate their family history and cancer risk. Working in partnership with fellowship-trained breast imaging specialists, our genetic counselors help guide cancer screening and decisions regarding prevention and intervention, if necessary.

Overview

At VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, we are committed to helping women reduce their risk for breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S., other than skin cancer, and although some are at higher risk, all women are at risk for breast cancer. A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 8 or about 12 percent. The High-Risk Breast Cancer Program is dedicated to providing award-winning cancer care from the area’s largest, most comprehensive team of international leaders in breast health and prevention strategies. Massey's award-winning breast care team can guide you through the lifestyle, diagnosis and treatment decisions that offer you the best chance for the best possible outcome.

Choose Massey’s High-Risk Breast Cancer Program because our care is:

Cutting-edge

The High-Risk Breast Cancer Program at Massey offers state-of-the-art testing and strategies for risk reduction. And as a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, Massey has one of the largest selections of cancer clinical trials in Virginia, giving patients expanded treatment options and new hope every day.

Comprehensive

If diagnosed with breast cancer, Massey offers a full range of treatment options and scope of care, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment, recovery and long-term survivorship for all types and stages of breast cancer and breast disorders. We also offer comprehensive support services that range from helping minimize symptoms and side effects to helping cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cancer.

Collaborative

Cancer care and prevention requires various specialized doctors who work as a team to treat the patient. Massey pioneered the region’s multidisciplinary approach where specialists from numerous medical backgrounds collaborate in teams to coordinate all aspects of patient care at every stage.

Compassionate

Through respectful, attentive and compassionate care, Massey’s team builds trusting relationships with patients while working on prevention strategies. We are committed to supporting you in every way we can – physically, emotionally, spiritually and otherwise – for as long as you need us. We’re your breast health partner for the long haul.

Customized

Recognizing that each patient is unique and every prevention strategy is different, Massey provides care plans tailored and individualized to you.
Services

Genetic counseling

Working in conjunction with Massey's Familial Cancer Clinic, the High-Risk Breast Cancer Program provides genetic testing and counseling to help individuals determine their family history and breast cancer risk, a prevention plan and treatment, if necessary.

High-risk screening (breast imaging)

We are among the nation’s premier breast imaging programs. Within a compassionate and caring environment, patients are screened and diagnosed by fellowship-trained staff that only perform breast imaging and diagnostic procedures and technologists that are dedicated solely to mammography. Women with a family history of breast cancer, or others who may be at higher risk, may need to start annual screening mammography earlier than the recommended 40-years-old. This is especially true for women who have two or more immediate family members who have had breast cancer, particularly if they have been diagnosed before menopause or have had cancer in both breasts.

Risk reduction

The High-Risk Breast Cancer Program offers risk reduction treatment options including both medical and surgical. In addition, patients have access to lifestyle risk-reduction resources including smoke cessation, weight reduction, nutrition guidance, physical activity, and other additional services.

High risk follow-up and management

Once becoming a patient, our clinic follows National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for high risk patients to develop personalized risk management plans with frequent office visits and imaging as recommended.
Research

Life-saving discoveries

At VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, you’ll have access to the most advanced therapies and the latest technologies. Some of these therapies were discovered and developed right here at Massey, where our doctors collaborate closely with our research scientists to bring new research breakthroughs to patients in the form of clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies that help the medical community discover new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure diseases. With one of the largest selections of cancer clinical trials in Virginia, Massey gives patients expanded treatment options and new hope every day.

Learn more about clinical trials at Massey CLICK HERE
FAQ's
Women and their close family members with any of the following could benefit from the High Risk Breast Cancer Clinic:
- Breast cancer at a young age (under 46 years)
- More than two family members with breast cancer on the same side of the family
- A family history of breast and ovarian cancer or pancreatic cancer
- A male relative with breast cancer
- Women with Jewish ancestry and even one case of breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer in themselves or close family members
- Those who have been told they should consider genetic testing for breast cancer risk
- Those who are worried about their risk for breast cancer based on their family histories or genetic background
To determine if you may benefit from a visit to the High Risk Breast Clinic, visit https://breastcancergenescreen.org and complete the Breast Cancer Genetics Referral Screening Tool (B-RST). If you screen “POSITIVE” or “MODERATE RISK”, you may benefit from an appointment at the High Risk Breast Clinic.
There are many risk factors for breast cancer that cannot be changed, such as gender, age, family history, early menstrual periods (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55) and other factors. But there are lifestyle-related risk factors that you can control, such as:
- Smoking
- No children or having first child after age 30
- Weight gain and obesity, particularly after menopause, and possibly a high-fat diet
- Hormone replacement therapy, particularly long-term postmenopausal use of combined estrogen and progestin
- Alcohol, especially if more than two drinks are consumed per day
- Physical inactivity
View these tips for good breast health.
Women with hereditary breast cancer may have higher risk for another cancer. The High Risk Breast Cancer Program may help you understand this risk and how to manage it. For example, some women with breast cancer that is hereditary may choose to have bilateral mastectomies because of the risk for cancer in the other breast. What you learn could also guide other types of cancer treatment and/or eligibility for clinical trials.

Also, it is often most helpful to start risk assessment with a family member who has already had cancer. Your genetics assessment could help your relatives stay healthy.

Women at high risk for breast cancer have various options to help manage their risk. Options for risk reduction include hormone therapy and risk-reducing medications and surgery. Some women may opt for surveillance, in which enhanced screening tools are used to try to find cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage. The best option depends on many factors, and these decisions are very personal. Our High Risk Breast Cancer Program can help guide you in making these decisions and can provide whatever treatment is needed. Detecting cancer early increases the possibility for a good outcome and more successful treatment.

Are you concerned about being at high risk of breast cancer? To schedule an appointment with the High Risk Breast Cancer Clinic, please call us at (804) 828-7999. Current patients should call (804) 237-6666.

At VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, we are committed to helping women reduce their risk for breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S., other than skin cancer, and although some are at higher risk, all women are at risk for breast cancer. A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 8 or about 12 percent. The High-Risk Breast Cancer Program is dedicated to providing award-winning cancer care from the area’s largest, most comprehensive team of international leaders in breast health and prevention strategies. Massey's award-winning breast care team can guide you through the lifestyle, diagnosis and treatment decisions that offer you the best chance for the best possible outcome.

Choose Massey’s High-Risk Breast Cancer Program because our care is:

Cutting-edge

The High-Risk Breast Cancer Program at Massey offers state-of-the-art testing and strategies for risk reduction. And as a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, Massey has one of the largest selections of cancer clinical trials in Virginia, giving patients expanded treatment options and new hope every day.

Comprehensive

If diagnosed with breast cancer, Massey offers a full range of treatment options and scope of care, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment, recovery and long-term survivorship for all types and stages of breast cancer and breast disorders. We also offer comprehensive support services that range from helping minimize symptoms and side effects to helping cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cancer.

Collaborative

Cancer care and prevention requires various specialized doctors who work as a team to treat the patient. Massey pioneered the region’s multidisciplinary approach where specialists from numerous medical backgrounds collaborate in teams to coordinate all aspects of patient care at every stage.

Compassionate

Through respectful, attentive and compassionate care, Massey’s team builds trusting relationships with patients while working on prevention strategies. We are committed to supporting you in every way we can – physically, emotionally, spiritually and otherwise – for as long as you need us. We’re your breast health partner for the long haul.

Customized

Recognizing that each patient is unique and every prevention strategy is different, Massey provides care plans tailored and individualized to you.

Genetic counseling

Working in conjunction with Massey's Familial Cancer Clinic, the High-Risk Breast Cancer Program provides genetic testing and counseling to help individuals determine their family history and breast cancer risk, a prevention plan and treatment, if necessary.

High-risk screening (breast imaging)

We are among the nation’s premier breast imaging programs. Within a compassionate and caring environment, patients are screened and diagnosed by fellowship-trained staff that only perform breast imaging and diagnostic procedures and technologists that are dedicated solely to mammography. Women with a family history of breast cancer, or others who may be at higher risk, may need to start annual screening mammography earlier than the recommended 40-years-old. This is especially true for women who have two or more immediate family members who have had breast cancer, particularly if they have been diagnosed before menopause or have had cancer in both breasts.

Risk reduction

The High-Risk Breast Cancer Program offers risk reduction treatment options including both medical and surgical. In addition, patients have access to lifestyle risk-reduction resources including smoke cessation, weight reduction, nutrition guidance, physical activity, and other additional services.

High risk follow-up and management

Once becoming a patient, our clinic follows National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for high risk patients to develop personalized risk management plans with frequent office visits and imaging as recommended.

Life-saving discoveries

At VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, you’ll have access to the most advanced therapies and the latest technologies. Some of these therapies were discovered and developed right here at Massey, where our doctors collaborate closely with our research scientists to bring new research breakthroughs to patients in the form of clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies that help the medical community discover new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure diseases. With one of the largest selections of cancer clinical trials in Virginia, Massey gives patients expanded treatment options and new hope every day.

Learn more about clinical trials at Massey CLICK HERE

Women and their close family members with any of the following could benefit from the High Risk Breast Cancer Clinic:

Breast cancer at a young age (under 46 years)
More than two family members with breast cancer on the same side of the family
A family history of breast and ovarian cancer or pancreatic cancer
A male relative with breast cancer
Women with Jewish ancestry and even one case of breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer in themselves or close family members
Those who have been told they should consider genetic testing for breast cancer risk
Those who are worried about their risk for breast cancer based on their family histories or genetic background

To determine if you may benefit from a visit to the High Risk Breast Clinic, visit https://breastcancergenescreen.org and complete the Breast Cancer Genetics Referral Screening Tool (B-RST). If you screen “POSITIVE” or “MODERATE RISK”, you may benefit from an appointment at the High Risk Breast Clinic.

There are many risk factors for breast cancer that cannot be changed, such as gender, age, family history, early menstrual periods (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55) and other factors. But there are lifestyle-related risk factors that you can control, such as:

Smoking
No children or having first child after age 30
Weight gain and obesity, particularly after menopause, and possibly a high-fat diet
Hormone replacement therapy, particularly long-term postmenopausal use of combined estrogen and progestin
Alcohol, especially if more than two drinks are consumed per day
Physical inactivity

View these tips for good breast health.