On this episode of Innovate and Elevate, Sharon is joined by Dr. Rachel Brem. Dr. Brem is board-certified in Diagnostic Radiology. She is a Professor of Radiology, the Vice Chair of Radiology, and Director of Breast Imaging & Intervention at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

In this conversation, Dr. Brem shares how to understand your risk for breast cancer and her recommended imaging strategy for those with dense breast tissue. She also emphasizes the importance of co-creating a personalized healthcare plan with a doctor that suits your needs. 

Note that other risk factors may influence your individual situation. For a comprehensive understanding, explore additional resources at breastcancer.org/risk/risk-factors. 

Cancer in a dense breast is exponentially more difficult to detect in a mammogram, which is why Dr. Brem is a strong advocate for breast ultrasound and/or MRI. In fact, breast imaging specialists can find 25% more cancerous cells with ultrasound screening in women with dense breasts than they can with mammography. 

Dr. Brem doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all breast healthcare approach. Instead, she urges women to get the knowledge they need to make the right choices for their health and find a doctor that can tailor a plan for their unique needs. 

Finally, Dr. Brem shares her hope in the technologies currently in development to help detect cancer before imaging, such as liquid biopsy and breath analysis. 

Connect with Sharon

• Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: Sharon Kedar
• Learn more about Innovate and Elevate innovateandelevatepodcast.com
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Connect with Dr. Rachel Brem

• Connect with Dr. Rachel Brem on LinkedIn: Dr. Rachel Brem

Additional Resources

• No Longer Radical by Dr. Rachel Brem and Dr. Christy Teal
• Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer
• CheckMate by The Brem Foundation
• Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment Calculator
• Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (The Gail Model)

Glossary

• Prophylactic mastectomy: A prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove one or both breasts to lower the chances of getting breast cancer.
• BRCA mutation: A BRCA mutation is a mutation in either of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are tumor suppressor genes. Harmful mutations in these genes may produce a hereditary breast–ovarian cancer syndrome.
• Liquid biopsy: A liquid biopsy is a test that checks for signs of diseases by analyzing a small sample of blood instead of taking tissue from the actual tumor.
• Molecular breast imaging (MBI): Molecular breast imaging is a technique that uses a special camera and a radioactive substance to detect breast cancer by highlighting abnormal areas in the breast tissue