The American College of Gynecologists (ACOG) has adopted the goals of assisting
in educating primary care clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of benign breast disease
Discussion of breast health is typically initiated with women at the time of
their first gynecological examination. With the first clinical breast exam being
performed at this visit, most primary care clinicians begin an ongoing, lifelong process of
providing clinical education to their patients.
It is not surprising, therefore, that a woman who would like to understand her
risk of developing breast cancer will often turn to her primary care practitioner
for guidance. Additionally, when a woman detects a
breast lump or other abnormality during breast self-examination it is typically
her primary care physician that she contacts first.
Until now, clinicians were limited to assessing individual breast cancer risk using models that have significant limitations, counseling women on maintaining
a healthy lifestyle, and encouraging patients to follow the standard
recommendations for breast cancer screening (breast self-examination, clinical
breast examinations and mammography).
According to the American Cancer Society, early detection of breast cancer
greatly improves the treatment options, the chances for successful treatment,
and survival. It is therefore especially important to identify women at high
risk of the disease as early as possible so that an appropriate monitoring and
management program can be implemented.
With the introduction of the noninvasive HALO™ Breast Pap Test, today’s
primary care clinician now has the ability to implement NAF screening in their practice and
provide individuals with an objective assessment of their breast cancer risk.
