Author: Leslie Toldo
Breast cancer has always been an important topic of discussion in Rebecca Fritz’s family.
“My grandma beat stage four breast cancer, and my mother was first diagnosed at 40,” Rebecca said.
Not willing to take any chances, Rebecca started getting annual mammograms as recommended by the American Cancer Society, 10 years before the age her mother was diagnosed.
“When I went into McLaren Imaging for my last regular mammogram, they had me fill out a questionnaire about risk factors,” Rebecca said.
That questionnaire is part of Volpara Risk Pathways, a new software program available at McLaren Flint, part of the Karmanos Cancer Network. Volpara helps assess breast cancer risk and individualize care.
“Volpara is a tool to identify and manage high-risk patients. The information is used to create screening recommendations and also identify those that may need genetic testing,” said Carrie Lovik, a physician assistant with McLaren’s Comprehensive Breast Program.
“The patient plays a major role in all of this, because they provide details about personal and family history.”
When they met at the initial consultation, Carrie made several recommendations for Rebecca including high risk imaging and discussion of genetic testing. High risk imaging includes rotating breast MRI with a screening mammogram every six months. She will also meet with Carrie annually.
“It was nerve wracking but in an almost positive way,” said Rebecca. “The first time my mother had breast cancer, it was caught early, but the second time we almost missed it. So, I am relieved to have this opportunity to make sure I am doing all I can do to monitor my health. The goal is that if I do develop breast cancer, we will find it very early when it will be treatable and even curable.”
Rebecca also had the opportunity to meet with an oncologist at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint to talk about reducing her risk. She will be starting the drug Tamoxifen soon. Taken over five years, it’s been shown to reduce the incidence of breast cancer by nearly 40 percent in healthy high-risk women.
Genetic testing was another suggestion that actually surprised Rebecca, based on her family history.
“The first time my mom got it, she and my grandma got tested for the BRCA breast cancer gene, and the tests came back negative,” said Rebecca.
“But Carrie explained that there are now multiple genes associated with breast cancer as well as other cancers.” As it turned out, Rebecca tested positive for the BRIP mutation, which increases her risk of developing ovarian cancer. The revelation led Rebecca to make more decisions about her future health.
“I plan to have an oophramectomy to remove my ovaries when I am 45,” Rebecca said. “If I could do it even sooner, I would.”
Over the next several years before she has surgery, Rebecca will have ovarian surveillance with imaging.
Rebecca has two sisters and a daughter of her own, whom she will encourage to take steps to protect themselves as well.
“The whole thing is scary. I just lost my mother to breast cancer in June- she was only 55,” Rebecca said. “Going through this process has been eye-opening, and overwhelming. I am grateful I am now taking steps to increase my odds of beating breast cancer, should I ever be diagnosed.”
If you would like to schedule a screening mammogram , visit mclaren.org/flintimaging. Both McLaren’s Flint and Fenton locations also offer walk-in screening mammogram appointments. You can learn more about the hospital’s high-risk breast program here.