BreastHealthLink - Are you at risk?

Women are more likely to develop breast cancer as they get older
The highest number of cases occur in women aged between 60 and 70. About 25% of cases of breast cancer occur in women under 50 (based on statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
Most women who get breast cancer have no other known risk factors other than the risk that comes with age. Experts say risk doubles every 10 years
Only one in 100 breast cancers occur in men
Note that while there are things that people intuitively believe you can do to reduce your risk, there are very few conclusive studies on risk factors.

Having one or more close relatives with breast or ovarian cancer can indicate higher risk
The age when relatives had breast cancer diagnosed is important. Risk increases with diagnoses before 50 and more so with diagnosis before 40
Having relatives who have had cancer in both breast increases risk
Having had a relative with both ovarian and breast cancer increases risk further
Some women have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene which increases cancer risk significantly
Ashkenazi Jewish women have a higher risk of hereditary breast cancer.

Women who have their first baby after 30 are about twice as likely to get breast cancer as those who have their first child before the age of 20
Women at highest risk are those who have a first baby after 35
Women who have no children at all also have an increased risk
Women who start their periods late and end them early are at less risk. Women who have a natural menopause after 55 are nearly twice as likely to get breast cancer as those who go through menopause at 45.
Women who have both ovaries removed at 35 run less than half the risk of others
In African and other countries where women start families earlier, have larger families and breastfeed for longer, the incidence of breast cancer is significantly lower

There is evidence that breastfeeding reduces risk, particularly if you breastfeed for three months or more.

Cancer in one breast increases the risk of recurrence in that breast or a new cancer in the other breast
Other breast conditions such as typical hyperplasia, lobal carcinoma in situ or ductal carcinoma in situ increase the risk of breast cancer
Previous ovarian cancer may increase the risk
Pervious bowel cancer may increase breast cancer risk. There is believed to be a connection in some types of breast cancers.

There is evidence that breastfeeding reduces risk, particularly if you breastfeed for three months or more
Most doctors agree any risk is probably slight
The current view is that there is little or no increase in risk among those using the pill in their 20's and 30's or between pregnancies
Those who take the pill when they are very young (under 20) or shortly before the menopause (45 and over) may be at greatest risk
The longer you take the pill, the greater the risk.

Prolonged use of HRT (10 -15 years) is thought to increase risk of breast cancer.

Regular exercise appears to reduce risk. In California researchers found that women who did 4 hours or more exercise a week halved their breast cancer risk
There is a relationship between a woman's weight and breast cancer. Increased weight around the time of menopause increases risk. Those who are overweight have greater stores of body fat which is belied to raise oestrogen and decrease progesterone levels
Western women or Asian women living a western lifestyle are at greater risk. Women in China and Japan have up to five times less risk than Australian women (Although breast cancer rates are rising). Experts believe that Asian foods, and particularly Japanese food contributes to their lower incidence of breast cancer in their own country
Some foods are believed to reduce the risk of breast cancer. See diet
There is no evidence that alcohol causes breast cancer. However studies have shown that regular alcohol intake may increase risk and that risk is likely to increase with intake. Drinking alcohol when young is believed to have the greatest impact.

Radiation increases breast cancer risk. Excessive chest X-rays at a young age may have an impact. There are studies being undertaken into the impact of electromagnetic fields
It has been suggested that use of some pesticides (such as lindane and DDT) may cause breast cancer. Studies are still being undertaken
Contamination of animal fats with pesticides may increase cancer risk
Other chemicals which mimic oestrogen may also contribute to risk.

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