BARD1: Options for Managing Cancer Risk
Risk Management for People with Inherited Mutations
People with mutations have options for managing their increased cancer risk. Experts at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) created guidelines for people with a mutation to manage their cancer risk.
We recommend that you speak with a genetics expert who can look at your personal and family history of cancer and can help you decide on a plan to manage your risk. You can learn more about risk management options in our section on Screening and Risk Reduction by Cancer Type.
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Beginning Age |
Recommendation |
Additional Information |
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25 |
Breast awareness Learn to be aware of changes in your breasts and potential signs of breast cancer. |
Self exams may be most informative at the end of the menstrual cycle. |
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25 |
Clinical breast exam Breast exam by doctor every 6-12 months. |
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|
40 |
Discuss screening Have a discussion with your doctor about the benefits, risks and costs of yearly breast with and without contrast. |
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|
40 |
Yearly . |
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|
No set age |
Discuss risk-reducing options Tamoxifen or other estrogen-blocking drugs may lower breast cancer risk. Have a discussion with your doctor about the benefits, risks and costs of medications to lower the risk for breast cancer with your doctor. More research is needed to show whether people with inherited mutations benefit from risk-reducing mastectomy. Discuss with your doctor about the option of risk-reducing mastectomy based on your personal and family history of cancer.
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Tamoxifen or other estrogen-blocking drugs may lower breast cancer risk. Medications and vaccines are being studied in clinical trials. Risk-reducing mastectomy lowers breast cancer risk by 90%, but has not been shown to improve survival. Even after double mastectomy, some breast tissue, and therefore cancer risk remains. |
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75 |
Discuss whether to continue screening Have a discussion with your doctor about whether to continue, stop or change breast screening. |
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|
Source: NCCN Guidelines: Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, , vs. 1, 2027. |
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Low Dose Tamoxifen With or Without Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Breast Cancer Risk Reduction
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT06195306
Other cancers
There isn’t enough research to show that people with a mutation benefit from extra screening or prevention for other types of cancer. Because of this, experts recommend following general population screening guidelines and considering your family history when managing these risks. National guidelines exist for screening the following cancers:
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