Chemoprevention
The Risk Assessment and Prevention Program at Invision Sally Jobe
| Watch a video about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. |
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Overview
The Risk Assessment and Prevention Program (RAPP) at Invision Sally Jobe is overseen by a board-certified genetic counselor. It provides patients with a detailed profile of their cancer risks based on their personal and family history. Although breast cancer risk may be the most common indication for referral, all types of cancer are addressed by this program. A Patient Navigator, who is a Registered Nurse with special training in the area of breast cancer risk assessment, also plays a key role in this program’s success.
How Does It Work?
When a patient is referred to the Risk Assessment and Prevention Program at Invision Sally Jobe, they will meet with a genetic counselor that will take a detailed family history, determine their risk of breast and other types of cancer using various models*, and assess their risk for any hereditary cancer syndrome. If the patient is a candidate for genetic testing, the genetic counselor will walk them through the informed consent process, coordinate the blood draw, and interpret the test results. A full report will be generated and a copy of this report will go to the patient’s referring physician, as well as to the patient directly. This report will include standard medical management recommendations based on the patient’s personalized risk for cancer. The patient can then discuss these recommendations with their referring doctor at the next office visit.
Options for Women at High Risk
The options for women at high risk for breast cancer include chemoprevention, regular breast MRI screening, and genetic counseling/testing. In summary:
- The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening MRI for women with a 20% or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer, including women with hereditary syndromes in themselves or close relatives (i.e. BRCA1/2 mutations) and women with radiation to the chest between the ages of 10 and 30. Learn more about breast MRI screening.
- The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends consideration of chemoprevention (medications to reduce the risk of breast cancer) in women with a 1.7% or greater 5-year risk of breast cancer. Learn more about chemoprevention.
- Various organizations, including COPIC, NCCN, and the US Preventive Services Task Force recommend genetic counseling/testing for BRCA genes in patients and families with hallmarks such as breast cancer prior to age 50 (or at any age in a woman with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry), male breast cancer, ovarian cancer at any age, or two or more of these cancers in a patient or their family. Learn more about cancer genetic counseling and testing.
More Information on the Risk Assessment and Prevention Program
A patient who is interested in scheduling a visit with our genetic counselor should contact centralized scheduling at (720) 493-3226. For more information, please view our Frequently Asked Questions about genetic counseling appointments. Patients can also contact our Patient Navigator who can answer questions about breast cancer risk assessment and high risk options at (720) 493-3200 or via email at RAPP@riaco.com .
*Models for Determining Cancer Risk
The models used in our Risk Assessment and Prevention Program are endorsed by the American Cancer Society and include:
