The Friends of Dana-Farber Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic, Boston, MA

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: May 26, 2010

Written by Katherine Corso, MPH, Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Understanding Your Cancer Risk

Every woman has some chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer in her lifetime, but some individuals have a higher risk than others. Risk factors include age, family cancer history, reproductive factors, a personal history of breast abnormalities, and levels of physical activity. 

What You Can Do

If you or your doctors think you may have a high cancer risk, the team of specialists at the Friends of Dana-Farber Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic can provide you with a thorough cancer risk evaluation and discuss the steps you can take to help lower your risk of developing cancer.  

  • We provide thorough evaluation and risk assessment, including genetic testing for cancer susceptibility
  • Education about cancer risk
  • Clinical research studies 

Here’s a brief description of two of our studies:

PACE is a six-month pilot exercise intervention study for women at increased breast cancer risk. Studies have found that regular exercise and having a healthy weight are associated with decreased risk of getting breast cancer in both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. We are conducting this study to help determine whether women who are at high breast cancer risk will take part in an exercise intervention study to help them become more physically active.

ExCel is a five year phase III breast cancer prevention clinical trial. It is a trial designed to determine whether the medication exemestane can prevent breast cancer in healthy post-menopausal women who have an increased risk for developing breast cancer.

The ExCel research study is coordinated by the NCIC Clinical Trials Group in cooperation with healthy women and cancer centers in the United States, Canada, Spain and France. The NCIC CTG is funded by the Canadian Cancer Society Research Group.

Contact Us

If you have questions about the clinic, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 617-632-2178. 

Please also visit our website: www.dana-farber.org/cancerriskandprevention