Shahla Masood, M.D., FCAP, MIAC Shahla Masood, M.D., FCAP, MIAC is Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Pathology and Assistant Dean for Research at the University of Florida Health Science Center.
Early detection is considered the most effective tool available to fight against breast cancer.
Enhanced public awareness in recent years has contributed significantly to the detection of small carcinomas which are associated with a better prognosis. In addition, remarkable efforts have been made to detect risk factors that will help to identify those women most likely to develop breast cancer and the genes that contribute to these risks. Among various factors studied, age and gender plays an important role. The incidence of breast cancer increases with age and the rate is higher in the developed western world, i.e. North America and Northern Europe. Other risk factors include a personal history of prior breast cancer, family history of bilateral, premenopausal or familial cancer syndrome and atypical ductal hyperplasia, particularly if associated with family history.