12 Sep USPSTF: Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer Should Consider Risk-Reducing Medications
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Mangione
Dr. Carol Mangione, M.D., M.S.P.H., F.A.C.P.
Division Chief of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research
Professor of Medicine
Barbara A. Levey, MD, and Gerald S. Levey, MD, endowed chair in Medicine David Geffen School of Medicine University of California
Los Angeles
Professor of public health at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: We all want to find better ways to help prevent breast cancer, a disease that impacts the lives of too many women in the United States each year. Fortunately, the Task Force found there are steps that women at increased risk can take to reduce their chances of developing breast cancer.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: The Task Force recommends that women at increased risk of developing breast cancer discuss the option of risk-reducing medications – such as tamoxifen, raloxifene, or aromatase inhibitors – with their clinicians. For women who are not at increased risk, we recommend against routine use of these medications.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: The most important takeaway is that there are medications available that can reduce the possibility of breast cancer for women who are at increased risk. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to assessing a woman’s risk of breast cancer, and risk-reducing medications are not for everyone. That’s why it’s critical for women to discuss potential risk factors and options for prevention with their clinicians, so they can make an informed decision based on their personal values and preferences.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?
Response: The Task Force is recommending further research to help us better understand how to identify women at increased risk for breast cancer who may benefit from these risk-reducing measures. We also need more evidence to better understand the lifelong benefits and harms of these medications, as well as how they can reduce risk in specific populations, such as African-American women who are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer and die from it.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: The evidence reviewed by the Task Force did not clearly demonstrate an optimal frequency for breast cancer risk assessment. Women might repeat risk assessments with their clinicians if there is a change in their risk factors, such as a family member being newly diagnosed with breast cancer.
It’s also important to note that this recommendation does not apply to women who have a current or previous breast cancer diagnosis.
Citation:
US Preventive Services Task Force. Medication Use to Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2019;322(9):857–867. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.11885
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749221
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Last Updated on September 12, 2019 by Marie Benz MD FAAD