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CANCER

GENETIC CANCER RISK

Female Breast

High Risk

Male Breast

Elevated Risk

Ovarian

Elevated Risk

Pancreatic

Elevated Risk

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CANCER TYPE

AGE RANGE

CANCER RISK

RISK FOR GENERAL POPULATION

Female Breast

To age 50

17%

2.0%

To age 80

53%

10.6%

Pancreatic

To age 80

2%-3%

1.1%

Ovarian

To age 80

5%

0.9%

Male Breast

To age 80

1%

<0.1%

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CANCER TYPE

PROCEDURE

AGE TO BEGIN

FREQUENCY

Female Breast 

Breast awareness - Women should be familiar with their breasts and promptly report changes to their healthcare provider. Periodic, consistent breast self-examination (BSE) may facilitate breast awareness.

Individualized

NA

Clinical encounter, including clinical breast exam, ongoing risk assessment and risk-reduction counseling

When genetic risk is identified, but not before age 21

Every 6 to 12 months

Mammography with consideration of tomosynthesis and breast MRI with contrast

Age 30, or modified to a younger age based on family history

Annually

Consider risk-reducing mastectomy.

Individualized

NA

Consider additional risk-reduction strategies.

Individualized

NA

Pancreatic

For patients with a family history of pancreatic cancer, consider available options for pancreatic cancer screening, including the possibility of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and MRI/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). It is recommended that patients who are candidates for pancreatic cancer screening be managed by a multidisciplinary team with experience in screening for pancreatic cancer, preferably within research protocols.

Age 50, or 10 years younger than the earliest age of pancreatic cancer diagnosis in the family

Annually

Provide education about ways to reduce pancreatic cancer risk, such as not smoking and losing weight.

Individualized

Individualized

Ovarian

Currently there are no specific medical management recommendations for ovarian cancer risk in mutation carriers.

NA

NA

Male Breast

Currently there are no specific medical management guidelines for breast cancer risk in mutation carriers. However, the increase in risk warrants consideration of options for male breast cancer screening, such as patient breast awareness education and clinical breast examinations.

Individualized

NA 

For Patients With A Cancer Diagnosis

For patients with a gene mutation and a diagnosis of cancer, targeted therapies may be available as a treatment option for certain tumor types (e.g., platinum chemotherapy, PARP-inhibitors)

NA

NA

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