Hereditary Breast Cancer

In 2024, the FMEC convened a learning network of 7 family medicine residency programs to improve screening, referral and patient education related to hereditary breast cancer (HBC).

Early detection, in conjunction with risk reduction, is essential to reducing cancer mortality rates. With an estimated ten percent of cancer diagnoses linked to a high-risk genetic mutation (200,000/year in the United States), identifying and counseling those individuals who carry the mutation can save lives. Family physicians are at the heart of the early detection and prevention of cancer. Only about 41% of primary care physicians refer women with a high risk for breast cancer for genetic counseling and testing.  

Approximately 211 physicians (158 residents, 53 faculty) and 52 other clinical staff participated in the project, with 48 family physicians and residents receiving CME and  Performance Improvement credits through the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The results shown at the end of the collaborative were impressive for the short period measured. Cancer screening rates, discussing screening findings with patients, sharing CDC Bring Your Brave (BYB) patient education resources, and referring patients who screened positive for genetic counseling or testing had greatly improved among the participating programs. When asked whether participants intended to continue to assess patients for HBC risk and offer the BYB resources to patients who screen positive, over 90% said yes.

The following residency programs completed the HBC QI pilot project:

• Cornerstone Care Teaching Health Center Family Medicine Residency Program

• Greater Lawrence Family Health Center Family Medicine Residency Program

• Heritage Valley Family Medicine Residency Program

• Indiana Regional Medical Center Rural Family Medicine Residency Program

• Lewis Gale Community and Family Medicine Residency Program

• New York Medical College at Saint Joseph's Family Medicine Residency Program

• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center McKeesport Family Medicine Residency Program

The Hereditary Breast Cancer QI project was funded by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you are interested in working with the FMEC on breast cancer initiatives, please contact Scott Allen at scott.allen@fmec.net.

For more information, please read the project Executive Summary or visit https://www.fmec.net/breast-and-ovarian-cancer-phase-2.