Breast cancer biology is a topic of intensive research, and there have been huge breakthroughs in recent years. Scientific insight into estrogen-receptor biology has led to major advances in estrogen-targeted prevention and chemotherapy. Increased breast density has emerged as a dominant, detectable, and modifiable risk factor for subsequent development of breast cancer in women. The purpose of this document is to discuss clinical application of the various tools available to assess a woman's risk for breast cancer and apply in clinical practice. This review also provides a comprehensive examination of the importance of breast density as a dominant risk factor for the development of breast cancer, highlighting the role that genetics and hormones play in maintaining breast density in postmenopausal women. Future research can be directed toward the detection of preexisting conditions (such as gene mutations) that put women at risk for highly aggressive cancers. Recommendations for genetic testing are reviewed here, with a particular focus on the components of genetic counseling, identifying individuals for testing, and interpreting test results.Read More