Duke Breast Risk Assessment Clinic

Duke breast experts perform breast cancer risk assessments for women who may be at an increased risk for breast cancer due to a genetic mutation, family history of breast cancer, or individual risk factors. Risk assessments can identify women who may benefit from additional breast cancer screening and potentially diagnose breast cancer earlier. Proper risk assessment can also identify women who may benefit from certain prevention strategies, such as prophylactic surgery or risk-reducing medications.

Our goal is to create a personalized breast care plan that includes ongoing breast cancer screening, exams, and referrals to other specialists, as needed. This is important as each individual has different needs. A woman with a family history or genetic risk factors for breast cancer should be evaluated and managed differently than a woman whose breast cancer risk is influenced by environmental or lifestyle risk factors, such as taking hormone replacement therapy or a sedentary lifestyle.

What Happens During a Breast Risk Assessment?

During your first visit to the Breast Risk Assessment Clinic, you may meet with our nurse practitioner and/or breast doctor. You will undergo a comprehensive evaluation and personalized risk assessment.

After thoroughly discussing your breast cancer risk management options, they will recommend the most appropriate breast imaging and any referrals that are indicated for your individual concerns. Breast imaging options may include:

• Screening and diagnostic mammography, including 3D mammography (also known as tomosynthesis)
• Breast ultrasound
• Breast MRI

If You Are At Risk for Breast Cancer

If your assessment finds that you are at average risk, you may be given a schedule for routine screening under the care of your primary care doctor.

If an abnormality is identified, you may be referred to a breast specialist at our breast cancer clinic for additional testing and management.

If you have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer, or one is suspected, you may also benefit from the close relationship our breast specialists have with the genetic counselors in Duke’s Hereditary Cancer Clinic. We can help arrange for you to undergo genetic counseling and testing, if appropriate.

As a returning patient, you may participate in an interactive small group session prior to your scheduled appointment. The group sessions, attended by 4-6 patients, will be facilitated by a breast care provider who will lead group discussions around topics such as breast cancer risk, nutrition, genetics, anxiety related to being high risk, and more. Other Duke providers may also participate in these sessions to provide focused education on featured topics.