Mount Kisco Medical Group, P.C. : Prevention

Prevention
MKMG believes strongly in educating women to take preventative measures to reduce the risk of breast cancer or to catch cancer in early stages when it is most treatable.

There are a lot of things women can do to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer and to detect early breast cancer. Early detection of breast cancer can save lives.

Annual Physical Exams

Physicians will perform a breast exam when a patient has her annual exam. This may help find lumps that were missed during self-exams. Physicians may be able to recognize abnormalities in the breast such as lumps, thickening and asymmetry that the patient may not be able to recognize. A patient may choose to have her physical exam done by either her Internist or Obstetrician/Gynecologist.

Annual Mammograms

Mammograms are important as they help doctors detect breast cancer at an early stage. Mammograms do not prevent breast cancer, but they can help save lives by finding it in its early stages. Women 40 years of age and older should have an annual mammogram. If a patient is at high risk, it may be recommended that she begin at an earlier age.

Limit Alcohol Usage

Women should avoid heavy alcohol intake. Women who drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages per day are at higher risk for breast cancer and other medical problems. The risk of breast cancer increases as the amount of alcohol increases.

Obesity

Obese postmenopausal women are at greater risk for breast cancer. Women are encouraged to maintain a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Exercise & Nutrition

Regular exercise can help to maintain a healthy weight. Women should aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. Also, a diet low in fat may help to protect against breast cancer as well as other diseases.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Postmenopausal women who take combined estrogen and progesterone therapy for more than a few years are at greater risk for breast cancer. It is recommended that women who require such medication take the lowest effective dose for the shortest period of time. The dose and length of treatment should be determined by individuals in conjunction with their health care providers.

Genetics

There is a small percentage of the population who carry a gene that puts them at a significantly higher risk for breast cancer. Women should discuss their family history with their health care providers. Some women with a particularly high risk by family history can benefit from genetic testing. Women who test positive for the breast cancer gene may benefit from more intensive screening protocols, medication and risk reduction surgeries. Genetics consultation is available in our Mount Kisco and Poughkeepsie offices. (See Oncology section on Genetic Counseling).

Medications to Prevent Breast Cancer

Two medications are currently available that have been shown to decrease a person's risk of developing breast cancer. These medications, Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) and Raloxifene (Evista) taken as 1 pill daily for 5 years, have been shown to cut a person's risk of developing breast cancer approximately in half. They are used in people at higher than average risk of developing breast cancer. You and your doctor can calculate your risk of developing breast cancer online at sites such as BreastCancerPrevention.org

The Mount Kisco Medical Group's Prevention Specialists

Obstetrician-Gynecologist:

David J. Berck MD MHS
(Perinatology)

Elisa E. Burns MD FACOG

Alison V. Cape MD (Perinatology)

Angelo Cumella MD FACOG

Mary G. Diana MD

Alyssa Dweck MD FACOG

Adele El Kareh MD PhD FACOG

Carla Eng MD

Jennifer B. Gannon MD FACOG

Padmavati Garvey MD

Regina M. Giuffrida MD FACOG

Scott D. Hayworth MD FACOG
(Practice Limited
to Gynecology)

Christine Herde MD

Helene P. Kaminski MD FACOG
(Practice Limited
to Gynecology)

Adina Keller MD FACOG

Laura M. Kaye, MD FACOG

Harvey Lederman MD FACOG

Antoinette Nigro MD FACOG

Kevin B. Reilly MD FACOG
(Practice Includes Sonography
& Gynecology)

Nikki Roberts MD

Toni A Saycheck MD FACOG

Janusz E. Rudnicki, MD FACOG

Deborah Schwartz MD

F. Michael Shaw MD FACOG

Jodi J. Sutton MD FACOG
(Practice Limited to
Gynecology)

Asya Trakht MD FACOG

C. Robert Verhoest MD FACOG

Amy B. Fleming CNM MS
(Midwife)

Internal Medicine:

Kavita Aggarwal MD

Barbara Alpert MD PhD

Alphonse R. Aversa MD FACP

Arbie B. Baccay MD

Lisa R. Bardack MD

Jimmy Bhatt MD

Thomas Burnette MD

Yorleny Bustamante MD

Patricia Casimir MD

Dominick Chiarieri MD

Marvin A. Chinitz MD FACG

Richard Cho DO

Carolyn J. Clarick MD

Michael E. Daniels MD

Bernadette E.A. Davis-Lorton MD

Jose Fontanez, MD

David Gotlieb MD

Robert Grimshaw Jr. MD FACP

Jeffrey Gross MD

Thomas Guzzardi MD

Nilo Herrera MD

Matthew P. Howard MD

Marilyn F. Jacobowitz MD

Scott M. Klares MD

Jim L. Koo MD

Sharon Krieger MD

Margaret M. Lenci MD FACR

Paul G. Mangiafico MD

Matthew R. Mannini DO

Steven M. Margulis MD

Ronen Marmur MD PhD

Donna Morrison MD

Mary Morton PhD FNP

Amanda Mueller MD

Dana Murphy MD

Lucy Perazzo MD

Helen Pillsbury MD

Maxwell B. Plesset MD FACP

John T. Raffalli MD

Michael A. Rizzi MD

Michael Rosen MD

Eric A. Rudin MD

Brandi D. Russano MD

Roxan F. Saidi MD

Martin Saltzman MD

Valerie Schadlow MD

Jenny So MD

James J. Turro MD

Margaret E. Vaughan MD

Annette van der Hoeven MD

Michael S. Wein MD

Robert A. Wolfson MD

Sophia Zeb MD

Kim Blake RN ANP

Jennifer Castaldi FNP

Karen Duzy RN FNP

Nicole Park RN FNP CDE

Keri L. Resigno RN FNP

Daniel M. Stephens PA