Several risk factors

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SingSunny229
SingSunny229 Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

First off, I am 41 years old.  I am high risk in some areas and not in others for breast cancer.  I've taken the Gail Model risk assesment and it puts me at 3% over 10 years.  I do not have children, had early menses, my breasts are quite dense, I have been on birth control for a number of years. There is not breast cancer in the family, but my mother, grandmother, aunt, great aunt,all had benign growths.  Not cancer, but still high chance for some type of growth.  I get regular mammograms, in fact just had one a few weeks ago.  I am slim, don't smoke, exercise several times per week. I am hyperthyroid and always wondered whether this condition puts me at higher risk for cancer. Would like to learn more online if possible.  Any thoughts, similar risk factors? Thanks for the sharing of experiences and opinions on this site. 

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  • tweekerbeeker
    tweekerbeeker Member Posts: 93
    edited October 2009

    dear sing, have you had a consultation with a Certified Genetics Counselor? That would be your best source of information.

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited October 2009

    If none of your  first or second degree relatives actually had  breast and/or ovarian cancer at an early age (before menopause) and often has multiple, close family members who have been diagnosed with these diseases. Harmful BRCA1 mutations may also increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical, uterine, pancreatic, and colon cancer (1, 2). Harmful BRCA2 mutations may additionally increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, gallbladder and bile duct cancer, and melanoma (3), then you and/or your relatives are not at high risk for having a BRCA mutation. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA

    The Gail risk model that I find does not list the 10 yr risk of having breast cancer, but a 5 yr or lifetime (to age 95) risk. http://www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool/

    The Gail model is the most widely used model for breast cancer risk.  But it isn't very good at estimating YOUR risk.  Its very good at estimating how many people in a population will get breast  cancer, but its only 'slightly better than the roll of the dice' for giving you an appropriate score for YOUR chance of having breast cancer.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17148763(follow the brown button on the right to get a free copy of the article.)

    This study did NOT find an association with hyperthyroid and breast cancer. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19155436

    This study did find an association in certain age groups in those treated with radioactive iodine.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17393376  

    But before you panic, note that the relative risk (RR) was about 1.53.  This does NOT NOT NOT mean 1.53 x 13% = about 20%; this means 1.53 x the risk of a woman without any particular risk factors for breast cancer.  There is controversy about  this number, but its about 3-5%.  So if you had RAI and are in the appropriate age group,  then your risk for this factor would be about 3-5 x 1.53 = about  5-8% lifetime risk.  The 'average' woman in the US has something like a 11-13%lifetime risk.

    Statistics are tricky.  If you have multiple risk factors, then you have to compare that to the risk of people with all of your risk factors.  

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  • SingSunny229
    SingSunny229 Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2009

    Thank you Tweekerbeeker and Leaf for your responses.  I've thought about a Genetics Counselor Leaf, but since I do not have breast cancer in family, I tend to wonder whether it might be too much.  I've thought about it.  I think I need to look into it a bit more before possibly going that route.  Thanks for the idea and help.   

    Leaf, thank you for all of your detail.  I agree, risk factors can be tricky and you have to compare them with people who have your risk factors.  Please know, that when I look at statistics as well I also do not look at them as being numbers that I put alot of weight into.  They are just numbers.  I don't look at a number and think I will get breast cancer. I guess I'm just doing research because I know that I have several risk factors and want to keep myself informed. As far as hyperthyroid risk, I have not been treated to radioactive iodine, so at least in that respect I am okay. Thanks for your info Leaf, very thorough response!  

    I wish everyone the best on this site and my thoughts and prayers to all. 

     SingS

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  • tweekerbeeker
    tweekerbeeker Member Posts: 93
    edited October 2009

       a CGC does not only deal w/ BRCA mutations. She could give you a better idea how much at risk you are, and maybe help you find a high-risk clinic if needed.

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  • SingSunny229
    SingSunny229 Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2009

    Thanks Tweeker!  I was actually not aware of all that a CGC does.  Yes, I will definitely give a CGC more consideration.  It would be good for me to at least know what risk level I am at.  I do tend to be a bit of a worrier and if he/she can give me a better idea of my true risk, then I can put it in perspective.  Without knowing, all I am doing is worrying and guessing at the potential risk.  I did not know that there were such thing as high risk clinics, thanks for the info.  I will look up CGC in my area and go from there. 

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