The simple truth is that just being a woman is a risk for breast cancer. It is impossible to know who will and who will not get breast cancer, but most cases in the U.S. can be linked to known risk factors. But risk factors are not a crystal ball, they cannot predict the odds of developing breast cancer.

There are certain risk factors that cannot be changed:

• Increasing age (two-thirds of all breast cancers occur in women over 50 years of age)
• Onset of first menstrual period at age 11 or younger
• Onset of menopause after age 50
• Family history of breast cancer in mother, and/or sisters
• Exposure to ionizing radiation (fluoroscopy for tuberculosis, radiation for Hodgkin's Disease etc)
• Gene changes (BRCA1 and 2)
• Race is a factor. White women and more likely to develop breast cancer than Latina, Asian or African American women.
• Taking DES or the daughter of a woman who took DES

While some risk factors can be changed:

• Never having children or having a first pregnancy after age 30
• Use of oral contraceptives (risk increases only while taking oral contraceptives)
• Use of hormone replacement therapy for five or more years
• Consuming one or more alcoholic drinks per day
• Postmenopausal weight gain
• Eating less than three servings of vegetables per day; diets high in saturated fats
• A sedentary lifestyle

Other possible risk factors include:

• Smoking

Tamoxifen and Raloxifene has been used for almost 10 years to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women who are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Tools are available to help you estimate your cancer risk. These tools will not tell you if you will get cancer. They will only estimate your risk.

• National Cancer Institute Risk Assessment
• Breast Cancer and Genetic Testing
  
  • Genetic Testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2: It's Your Choice
  • Cancer Prevention Tip

Genetics of Breast and Ovarian Cancer

For information or appointments
Breast Imaging Center