Some women are at higher risk of breast cancer. If you think you are at higher risk of developing breast cancer, click here to find out about the best methods of finding breast cancer early for you.
You might be at higher risk of developing breast cancer if:
- two or more family members have had breast or ovarian cancer (especially if they are close relatives – your mother, sister or daughter – and/or if they were younger than 50 when their cancer was diagnosed)
- you have previously been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer
- you have previously been diagnosed with a pre-invasive breast disease such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical hyperplasia of the breast (AH)
- you have a mutation in a gene known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
Remember that your risk can change as different life events unfold.
For more information about risk factors for breast cancer click here. National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre publication ‘Do you have breast cancer in your family’ will help you work out whether you have an increased chance of developing breast cancer. If you are concerned that you might be at higher risk of breast cancer see your GP.
MRI scans funded for younger women at high risk of breast cancer
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre welcomes the addition of two new items to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the surveillance and diagnosis of women under 50 years of age at high risk of developing breast cancer.
A Medicare Benefit will be payable for the use of MRI in the surveillance of women under 50 years who have no signs or symptoms of breast cancer but are at high risk of developing the disease. A second Benefit is available if an additional MRI scan is required for the follow-up of any abnormalities detected on a previous MRI scan in the previous 12 months.
Who is eligible?
The Benefits are available to women under 50 years of age with no signs or symptoms of breast cancer and deemed at 'high risk' of breast cancer due to one of the following:
- Three or more first or second degree relatives on the same side of the family diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer.
- Two or more first or second degree relatives on the same side of the family diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, including any of the following features:
- bilateral breast cancer
- onset of breast cancer before tha age of 40 years
- onset of ovarian cancer before the age of 50 years
- breast and ovarian cancer in one relative
- Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
- breast cancer in a male relative.
- One first or second degree relative diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45 years or younger, plus another first or second degree relative on the same side of the family with bone or tissue sarcoma at age 45 years or younger.
- Genetic testing has identified the presence of a high risk breast cancer gene mutation.
The MRI scan must be performed under the professional supervision of an eligible provider at an eligible location, where the patient is referred by a specialist or consultant physician.
View NBOCC media release.
