Perspective: Evaluating Genetic Risk for Breast Cancer

Time constraints on primary care physicians can be a significant barrier to obtaining an adequate family history for assessing risk. By having a patient complete the family history via online tools and remembering some key associations, we can better assess for genetic risk and, ultimately, improve the care we provide to our patients.

Following are the combination of cancers that might suggest recommending a risk assessment:

BRCA1/2

Breast, ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, and prostate cancer

CDH1

Lobular breast and diffuse gastric cancer

PTEN

Thyroid and endometrial cancer

TP53

Sarcoma, childhood leukemia/lymphoma, brain cancer

STK11

Colorectal (Peutz-Jeghers–type hamartomatous polyps), gastric, pancreatic, breast, and ovarian cancers

Dr. Hulick is a medical geneticist at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Ill., and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.