Welcome to the High Risk Breast Program of Vermont’s website.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the United States (other than skin cancer) and is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. In 2009, it is estimated that 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women and approximately 40,170 women are expected to die from breast cancer.(1) In Vermont, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women with about 473 cases diagnosed each year. Approximately 92 women in Vermont die of breast cancer each year. Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates among Vermont women are not different from the national rates.  According to the 2006 BRFSS, 79% of Vermont women 40 and older had a mammogram in the preceding two years.  However, certain women are less likely to be screened, such as those that lack health insurance, have less than an high school education, have a lower level of income, or lack a personal doctor.(2) 

Prevention, screening and early detection are the best ways to help improve these statistics. In 2003, the High Risk Breast Program of Vermont (HRBP) was founded by Dr. Marie Wood as a grass roots effort to implement a clinical program with a research focus. Today, over 450 women throughout the region participate in the HRBP. The HRBP is based within the Breast Care Center (BCC) and the Vermont Cancer Center (VCC) at the University of Vermont and Fletcher Allen Health Care.

1 American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2009. Atlanta: American Cancer Society, Inc.
2 Vermont Department of Health. Breast Cancer in Vermont, 2009.