Who is at Risk for Getting Breast Cancer?

Scientists still do not know what causes breast cancer, but we do know that certain factors may put a woman at higher risk of developing it. A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of getting a disease. Different cancers have different risk factors. Having a cancer risk factor or even several of them does not necessarily mean that you will get cancer. Some women with one or more breast cancer risk factor never develop it. However, every woman is at some risk for breast cancer as simply being a woman and growing older puts us at risk for this disease. As of age 40, the incidence of breast cancer increases as we age, and continues to increase over our lifetime.

Other factors that can increase a woman’s risk include:

• Personal history of breast cancer - if a woman has had cancer in one
breast; she is at increased risk for developing it in the other breast.

• Family history - a woman is at increased risk if her mother, sister, or
daughter has had the disease.

• Cellular irregularities - if a woman has certain changes in her cells which are called atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ, she is at increased risk; your doctor can help you determine if you have this irregularity.

• Genetics - the presence of certain inherited genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2 indicate a woman’s predisposition to develop breast cancer. Tests are now available to determine the presence of these genes.

• Women who began menstruation at an early age - under 12 years old--had children later in life- after age 30 - or not at all or experienced late on-set menopause - after age 55 - may be at increased risk

• Weight: women who are overweight - carrying their weight particularly in the waist area - are at higher risk, particularly after menopause.

• Familial Groups - female descendants of Eastern and Central European Jews (also known as Ashkenazi Jews) are at increased risk for breast cancer.

• Alcohol - Use of alcohol is linked to increased risk of developing breast cancer. Compared with non-drinkers, women who consume one alcoholic drink a day have a very small increase in risk; however, those who have 2 to 5 drinks per day have about a 1.5 times the risk for the disease as that of women who drink no alcohol.

• Race - Caucasian women are at a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer than are African-American, Asian, Hispanic or Native American women.

• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - long term use of certain female hormones increases the risk of breast cancer. If you have taken such therapy, discuss your risk factors with your physician.