Risk Management for Breast Care

The following list describes the risk factors surrounding breast care management.

Self-detected mass: The majority of failure to diagnose breast cancer cases involve a patient-detected mass, lump, or thickening. Whether or not you can confirm a mass, the patient presenting with a self-detected lump must be followed to conclusion.

Periodic breast cancer risk assessment discussion: Review family history and any other risk factors at least every five years.
Breast Density: For patients with normal or benign findings on mammogram who are identified as having dense breasts, provide access to information explaining the impact of density on their overall breast cancer risk (and on the ability to detect cancer), and the risks and benefits of any follow-up screening options.

Risk factors: Assess—and periodically update—a patient’s personal and family history to promote timely age- and risk-stratified breast cancer screening, including appropriate referrals to high risk counseling.

Follow up: Document follow-up testing recommendations (including for tests reported as not completed) and communicate the follow-up plan to the patient and all responsible providers.

Referrals: For a patient referred to a specialist, make sure to coordinate the care among providers and clarify for the patient the specific roles and responsibilities.

See Also

Data for Breast Cancer Diagnosis-related Cases