High-Risk Breast Cancer Screening Program
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Many women believe breast cancer is simply hereditary, but that’s true 10 percent of the time. Women should be aware of their breast cancer risk the way they monitor their blood pressure, cholesterol level and body mass index. Most women underestimate their risk for developing breast cancer.
That’s why our expert team designed the High-Risk Breast Cancer Screening Program. The program identifies high-risk patients and implements risk-reducing strategies aimed at helping them avoid cancer or getting an early diagnosis that leads to improved outcomes.
Our Program
We provide screening, education, structured monitoring and treatment for women who are at increased risk for breast cancer based on factors beyond their control.
Our program is one of the few in the region to offer an in-person genetic specialist who can provide one-on-one education, guidance and support.
Knowing the Risks
The High-Risk Breast Cancer Screening Program addresses the concerns of women who have:
- Personal history of breast cancer
- Family history of breast cancer in two or more close relatives (parents, siblings and children)
- Family history of breast cancer in more than one generation
- Male relative with breast cancer
- Family member who has both breast and ovarian cancers
- Relative who's had a positive BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic test
- Are of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish ancestry (with or without a family history of breast or ovarian cancer)
The High-Risk Breast Cancer Screening Program provides patients with an in-depth evaluation, incorporating individually tailored counseling in genetics and risk management. It also offers women the opportunity to learn about treatments designed to lower the risk of breast cancer and provides them with up-to-date information on risk-reducing surgery.
What to Expect from the Evaluation
The initial visit is designed to be comprehensive. The amount of time patients spend with each member of the program team will vary based on their personal history and associated risk.
During the visit:
Our board certified-breast surgeon or advanced nurse practitioner will meet with the patient to explain the program, take a complete history, perform a breast exam and provide a plan for follow-up care. If diagnostic tests such as a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI are needed, they will be ordered on the same day of the visit. Some tests may be performed on the same day, and others may need to be scheduled for a later date.
If needed, our genetic specialist will provide education, counseling and cancer genetic testing. If family history suggests hereditary breast cancer syndrome, patients may want to consider genetic testing. Genetic testing is a highly sophisticated laboratory test that analyzes DNA from a patient’s cells and identifies the presence of chromosomal abnormalities known as BRCA mutations. Patients who have BRCA mutations have a very high risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime as well as an increased risk for ovarian cancer.
When appropriate, a clinician will also discuss various preventive techniques, including surveillance, risk reduction surgery or drug therapy.
High-Risk Cancer Screening Assessment Questionnaire
This simple questionnaire can help you get the information you need to discuss your cancer risk with our team and ask for further evaluation. If you take the quiz and find red flags in your personal or family’s health history, you may benefit from hereditary cancer testing. A yes answer to any of the questions in the below assessment should prompt you to contact the Center for Breast Health at 845.357.7462 to discuss your specific risk factors and recommendations.
View Our High-Risk Screening Assessment for Breast Center
Meet Our Genetic Specialist
Tatyana Zakharenko, CNM, NP WH, AGN-BC, Manager of Genetic Services, serves as our Genetic Specialist who works closely with Karen Karsif, MD, Medical Director of The Center for Breast Health and her team to enhance and expand the center’s High-Risk Cancer Screening Program.
Tatyana is dedicated to improving women’s health and is board-certified in midwifery and advanced genetics nursing. She specializes in genetic cancer counseling and testing. Tatyana assesses patients’ personal and family cancer history and performs genetic cancer tests. Based on that information, she is able to generate personalized screening and prevention recommendations.
She received her Master’s degree in midwifery and women’s health nurse practitioner certification from New York University in New York City. She earned her first Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Kharkov State University in Kharkov, Ukraine and her second Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Long Island University in Brooklyn. She is committed to continuing her field-specific education and was recently awarded the certificate of appreciation in cancer-risk-assessment from the Division of Clinical Cancer Genetics at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, CA.
Born in Ukraine, Tatyana is fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian. She is also able to communicate medical issues with patients who speak Spanish.
To speak with Tatyana and for information, referrals and appointments, please call 845.357.7462.