We know that detecting cancer early can save lives and reduce the need for aggressive cancer treatments.
To do this, our cancer risk assessment and prevention team at RUSH MD Anderson starts by identifying your risk for developing cancer. We then make sure you have access to the screening, at the right time, based on your unique risk factors.
Our Approach to Cancer Risk Assessment and Prevention
Our cancer risk assessment and risk prevention services go beyond routine cancer screenings. We focus on understanding your personal risk and taking proactive steps to detect cancers as early as possible, when they are easiest to treat.
Our approach centers around:
- Personalized risk assessment and screening: We’ll determine your risks and recommend a personalized, highly sensitive screening plan based on your specific health history, family history and lifestyle.
- Early detection: With personalized recommendations and advanced screening technology, we can often detect cancers at the earliest stages when they are most treatable.
- Proactive care and follow-up: Once we identify your risks and needs, we connect you to a high-risk provider. They will provide you with ongoing care, guidance, support and screening coordination.
Your Risk Assessment
Our cancer risk assessment and prevention services are integrated across multiple specialties, including breast cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer. In some cases, you may start this conversation with your primary care provider as well.
To evaluate your risk for developing certain cancers, your provider will start by reviewing your personal and family health history. They’ll also discuss other risk factors, including your lifestyle, age and ethnicity.
From there, we use additional tools and testing, including:
- Validated risk models
- Genetic testing and counseling
- Advanced screening technologies and tools, such as imaging, blood tests and more
If your assessment reveals a high risk for developing certain cancers, our nurse navigators will work with you to coordinate your next steps.
High-Risk Expertise
In most cases, you’ll work closely with a high-risk nurse practitioner who guides and manages your care. Your high-risk nurse practitioner will:
- Develop a personalized screening plan and schedule based on your distinct needs, risks and preferences
- Discuss preventive treatment options
- Provide answers and education at all ages and stages of your life
- Continue to monitor your risks long-term
This approach ensures that you won’t have to navigate your risk or prevention plan alone. You will have a dedicated team helping you stay on track to protect your long-term health.
Cancer Risk Assessment Programs
At RUSH MD Anderson, we have several risk assessment programs.
Breast cancer risk assessment
Our breast cancer risk assessment and prevention program is one of the most comprehensive in the country. We offer breast cancer risk assessment to every person who comes to RUSH MD Anderson for their mammogram and other breast imaging.
If your risk assessment identifies that you have a high risk of developing breast cancer, we’ll connect you with a high-risk nurse practitioner. They will work with you to put together a personalized screening and prevention plan based on your unique needs.
This may include:
- Mammogram
- Screening breast ultrasound (ABUS)
- Breast MRI
- Additional advanced imaging, including contrast-enhanced mammography
Our program has been highly successful in detecting small, early-stage breast cancers that are more treatable, with less aggressive therapies.
Genetic testing and counseling
At RUSH MD Anderson, we offer expanded genetic testing and counseling. Your high-risk provider may recommend genetic testing based on your family history.
Genetic testing can identify your risk for inherited cancers, such as certain breast cancers, colon cancers and blood cancers.
Lung cancer screening
Lung cancer is leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. This is often because symptoms do not arise until the cancer is in its late stages when it is harder to treat. However, lung cancer screening can detect lung cancer in its earliest stages when it is most curable.
At RUSH MD Anderson, we offer lung cancer screening to people who have a high risk of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer screening is a noninvasive low-dose CT scan that can identify small lung nodules and early lung cancers.
Multi-cancer early detection blood test
RUSH MD Anderson offers a multi-cancer early detection blood test that can identify cell-free DNA, which is shed into the blood by more than 50 types of cancer.
This groundbreaking test can detect aggressive cancers that do not currently have standard screening options, including:
- Pancreatic cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Liver cancer
- Blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma
- Head and neck cancers
If the MCED test identifies a sign of cancer, your high-risk provider will:
- Coordinate follow-up testing to confirm the location of the cancer (the test reports the location of the cancer with 93% accuracy)
- Connect you to the appropriate specialists
- Guide you through the next steps
Choosing Rush for Cancer Risk Assessment and Prevention
- Advanced testing and technology: From contrast-enhanced mammography to (multi-cancer blood testing), RUSH MD Anderson offers some of the most innovative tools and technology to detect cancer early.
- Coordinated care: Your high-risk provider oversees your care, connects you with the right specialists and helps you coordinate appointments. This ensures that you will have an expert in your corner making sure you get the screening, care and support you need at each step.
- Comprehensive cancer support services: Our cancer risk assessment and prevention services are part of RUSH MD Anderson’s comprehensive cancer support services. These services focus on improving your health and quality of life by providing physical, emotional and social support.