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Breast Cancer/breast cancer risk

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Expert: - 4/15/2008


Question
Dr. Nordquist,

My mother, who is 63 years old, recently was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy.  She is doing well but I am a nervous wreck.  I am 32 years old and I am afraid that I will get breast cancer.  Nobody else in my family has ever had breast cancer except my mom; no grandparents, aunts, cousins, nobody.  My mother thinks she got it because she took hormone replacement for a few years.  She also never breastfed, smoked for 40 years, and was an occasion drinker of alcohol.  I breastfed all three of my children for 2 years each, I do not smoke, and I never drink alcohol.  I am still afraid though.  I do the self breast exams but I have naturally lumpy breasts which worries me that I will not feel a cancer lump.  Should I get a mammogram now?  What advice can you give me?  Thank you so much for your time.

Answer
Well, you probably are at a lower risk, but I can not a priori exclude you from any genetic risk. If you have lumpy breasts mammography alone is not enough. I would recommend check ups once a year including mammography, ultrasound AND MRI breast scans and needle biopsies of anything unclear that is seen. Good luck!

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.

Experience

I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Colon Cancer

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I'm a medical doctor and specialist in medical oncology and radiation therapy.

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