Mutations in the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 gene place a woman at high risk for hereditary breast or ovarian cancer, and women with these mutations tend to develop these cancers at a younger age. While we are currently recommending mammography beginning at age 25 in this population, it is not clear that mammography will be effective in identifying cancer at an early treatable stage. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of breast cancer and of breast tissue relative to mammographic identification of cancer in the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 population. Women who are known BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 carriers or who are at high risk of carrying a mutation, will be identified, and all mammograms from these patients will be collected and digitized. We plan to collect a mammography bank on these patients. We will then use this bank to identify mammographic characteristics of breast cancers in this population, specifically looking at rate of growth, calcifications, DCIS, density relative to surrounding tissue, etc. In addition, we will study the density of the breast tissue by age and look for correlations between mammographic density and risk. We will also look at how mammographic density varies with increasing age, use of tamoxifen, use of hormone replacement therapy, oophorectomy, or other factors.

If you would like additional information on the Breast/Ovarian Cancer Genetics and Risk Assessment Program please contact:
Connie Roche at 617-726-4919

Kevin S. Hughes, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Surgical Director, Breast Screening
Clinical Co-Director, Breast/Ovarian Cancer Genetics and Risk Assessment Program
Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Connie A. Roche, MSN, RN, CS
Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Nurse Practitioner, Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center
Nurse Practitioner, Breast and Ovarian Cancer Genetics and Risk Assessment Program