If a woman has atypia, does it mean that she has cancer or that she will get cancer?
No, it simply means she is at greater risk. Atypia confers a 4x to 5x relative risk of developing breast cancer. Although most women with atypia will not develop cancer, experts generally agree that all invasive cancer was, at one point, atypia. HALO helps identify these high-risk women, allowing for early intervention. Almost all treatment options are non-surgical and include lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, weight loss, etc. Other options include increased surveillance using more sophisticated imaging like ultrasound, diagnostic mammogram or MRI. Chemoprevention may also be used as a treatment option. Any treatment options for high risk women with atypia should be considered in conjunction with all other risk factors.
