Primary Care consultations can cut breast cancer risk

The time has come for breast cancer risk assessment, counseling and genetic testing to move from cancer specialists to the realm of primary care, according to a presentation at the AAAS annual meeting, held this year in Boston.
"A growing body of evidence has documented the benefits of preventive measures for high-risk women including those with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes," said Funmi Olopade, MD. "Referral for cancer-risk assessment and BRCA testing in the primary care setting is a necessary next step towards personalized medicine for women at risk for breast cancer."
Most high-risk women present in the primary care setting. Primary care physicians should learn about the genetics of cancer risk, take a comprehensive personal and family history and advise patients who appear to be at increased risk about the plusses, minuses and limitations of genetic testing and risk-reduction strategies.