With so many factors now linked to breast cancer, prevention has become the focus of much research. There are studies on risk-lowering drugs, as well as studies looking at factors that people can control that may lower breast cancer risk.
Some studies look at the benefit of education programs to promote screening and healthy living among adults as well as children and teens. For instance, government agencies and health organizations produce mass media campaigns. They study these efforts to see how well they help people learn about lifestyle changes that affect breast cancer risk.
Finding new and better means of knowing which women are at higher risk of breast cancer is another active area of research.
Random periareolar fine needle aspiration (RPFNA), ductal lavage and nipple aspiration
Three risk assessment tools under study are random periareolar fine needle aspiration (RPFNA), ductal lavage and nipple aspiration (nipple aspirate fluid cytology) [230-236]. These procedures remove cells from the breast and look at these cells under a microscope. Abnormal, or atypical, cells are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
The procedures differ in how the cells are removed from the breast. RPFNA uses a thin needle to remove cells from about 10 areas near the areola. Ductal lavage uses a small tube to flush out fluid (which contains cells) from the nipple. Nipple aspiration (such as the HALO test) uses a breast pump (and sometimes massage) to remove fluid from the nipple. Ductal lavage and nipple aspiration are becoming more common in the United States and many breast centers now offer them to women at higher risk. However, more data are needed to learn how to use the findings from these tests. At this time, finding abnormal cells on any of these tests should not affect a woman's decision to take tamoxifen or raloxifene or to join a risk reduction clinical trial.
If you are interested in one of these tests, talk to your health care provider. He/she may be able to give you a referral to a breast center with expertise in risk assessment and risk reduction.
Updated 11/10/09
