Development of an Individual Prevention Tool: The Breast Cancer Risk Profile

Abstract

In order to give personalized preventive recommendations, on a basis of ­country-specific research findings and putative risk and protective factors which are mostly modifiable, we developed an individual risk profile report oriented to lower the woman’s risk level of breast cancer as much as possible. The available data are requested through a thorough questionnaire on sociodemographics, family history of cancers, reproductive history, diet, lifestyle and occupation, completed with a detailed anthropometric assessment, which allows calculation of body composition and somatotype. Additional information is obtained from non-clinical tests as mammography and selected laboratory results. A series of 20 items – which includes family history of cancer; reproductive factors; intake of: red meat, white meat, dairy foods, oils and fats, high glycemic load foods, vegetables and fruits; alcohol consumption; physical activity; psychosocial stressors; metabolic disturbances; other medical factors; fat-to-muscle ratio; serum vitamin D level; urine 2:16 α-OH estrogens ratio; serum triglycerides/HDL ratio; fasting insulinemia, and mammographic density – is taken into account to compose a tailored risk profile, which enables us to give the patient a number of useful guidelines. Patients should undergo a follow-up during a minimum time of 1 year, with the aim of checking whether the expected changes are having place or not. Although generalizability of the proposal is limited in the case by populational features of Uruguayan women, it is feasible from a practical viewpoint, taking into account the necessary resources for its application.