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SALT LAKE CITY — October is national breast cancer awareness month. Nationally, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. But if caught early, it is extremely treatable.
Intermountain Healthcare is offering a new survey to determine if you are at high risk.
The survey is called the Tyrer-Cuzick questionnaire. It's a risk assessment calculator that measures a woman's 10-year and lifetime risk for developing breast cancer based on family medical history, density of breast tissue, and genealogy.
"Women will take this survey each time they come in to get their yearly mammogram," said Dr. Eugune Kim, breast imaging radiologist for Intermountain Healthcare.
Kim said if your risk factor is high then you will get an MRI coupled with your annual mammogram.
"With breast cancer, it's all about early detection; the screening mammogram that you get once a year is the best way to do that," Kim said.
Starting next year, an abbreviated MRI will be offered. It's quicker and less expensive.
"It's shortening the exam to much shorter, studied from somewhere around 40 minutes to less than 10 minutes," he said.
The goal of the MRI and survey is early detection.
"With breast cancer, early detection means decreased morbidity and decreased mortality, so early detection definitely saves lives," Kim said.
Katherine Graham took the risk assessment in January and found out that she is high risk.
Graham said she has a family history of breast cancer. Her mom, aunt, and sister have all had it but have lived long and healthy lives after treatment.
"Despite the history, I feel blessed that they have done so well," she said.
Graham said that during her MRI they found that she had dense breast tissue.
With the family history and the dense breast tissue, it makes her high risk.
She said with the new technology, she is thankful that she will be able to be proactive.
"To me, having this extra procedure is a real benefit because it puts my mind at rest, that I am doing all that I can do. And if they do find cancer, it will be sooner rather than later," Graham said.
