Breast cancer risk assessment is important in identifying women who may be at
higher than average risk for developing the disease. Based upon risk assessment,
women at high breast cancer risk may require intensified breast surveillance, and
may have chemopreventive or risk-reduction surgery options to reduce breast
cancer risks. History is integral to breast cancer risk assessment and to recognize
red flags suspect for hereditary breast cancer syndromes. Empiric models are available
to calculate breast cancer risks. Nurse practitioners can play an important role
in cancer prevention by using appropriate tools to assess women’s breast cancer
risk in primary care settings.