BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Risk factors

Most women have more than one known risk factor for developing breast cancer, yet will never get the disease. Some risk factors are things that you do not have any control over, while others can be changed by making changes in your lifestyle (see list below).

What is the most important risk factor?

Simply being a woman. But remember, there is no one cause of breast cancer. If you are concerned about your breast cancer risk, discuss your breast health needs with your doctor.

Known and probable risk factors:

-being a woman

-getting older

-having a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer

-having a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer

-having a previous biopsy showing hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ

-having your first period before age 12

-starting menopause after age 55

-never having children

-having your first child after age 30

-having a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer genes

-drinking more than one alcoholic drink per day

-being overweight after menopause or gaining weight as an adult

-currently or recently using estrogen & progestin Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)