Learning how to effectively advocate for your breast health, navigate key care decisions, and ask the right questions can be difficult. Please see some fast facts below:

Q:  What is my personal risk of breast cancer, and when should I start screening?

A:  Every woman should have a formal risk assessment by age 25–30. Family history on both your mother’s and father’s side matters. Some women benefit from earlier mammograms, MRI, or genetic testing.

Q:  Do I have dense breasts, and do I need additional imaging?

A:  Dense tissue can hide cancers on a mammogram and slightly raises risk. Women with dense breasts should ask whether ultrasound or MRI is right for them.

Q: If something abnormal is found, can I have a needle biopsy first?

A:  Most breast abnormalities can be diagnosed with a minimally invasive core needle biopsy, without surgery. You should have a diagnosis before any operation.

Q:  Will my care be reviewed by a multidisciplinary team, and is my surgeon specialized in breast surgery?

A:  The best outcomes come from coordinated care among breast surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, pathologists, and plastic surgeons who treat breast disease every day.

Q:  What are all of my treatment options?

A:   Ask whether you are a candidate for lumpectomy. If mastectomy is recommended, ask whether nipple-sparing mastectomy and reconstruction are options. Asking for a second opinion is always appropriate.

Q:  Am I a candidate for a clinical trial?

A:  Advantages of participating in a clinical trial include:

  • Access to cutting-edge treatments and approaches
  • Care from physician-scientists who are actively advancing cancer research
  • Specialized expertise for complex or difficult-to-treat cancers
  • A multidisciplinary approach
  • More opportunities to match treatment to the individual patient
  • Close monitoring and research-driven care

Q:  What are the advantages of being seen and treated at a Comprehensive Cancer Care Center?

A:  An NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center brings the full spectrum of cancer research together—from discovering how cancer works, to developing new treatments, to bringing those discoveries directly to patients. Georgetown Lombardi is the only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Washington, DC region. Patients treated at NCI-Designated Cancer Centers have a 25% greater chance of survival.  —American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

And above all, if you notice a change in your breasts, don’t wait for your next mammogram. Get yourself checked.