Know what is normal for your breasts

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

90% of people who get breast cancer we do not know the cause. However, there are associated risk factors.

The average woman in the United States has about a 1 in 8, or about 12%, risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Women who have an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene (or both) can have up to an 80% risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetimes. Breast cancers associated with an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene tend to develop in younger women and occur more often in both breasts than cancers in women without these abnormal genes.

Personal Cancer History

Your personal cancer history also affects your risk. Any of these events in your personal history could be a sign of hereditary breast or ovarian cancer:

Know Your Family History

It is important to know your family history. You should investigate who has had breast cancer on both your mother’s and father’s side of the family. A family history of any of the following may be a sign of hereditary cancer:

A Relative With:

Two Relatives With:

Three Relatives With:

Breast Cancer Risk

Women In The U.S. General Population

Women In The U.S. General Population

About 7 out of 100 women in the U.S. general population will get breast cancer by the age of 70

About 93 out of 100 of these women will NOT get breast cancer by age 70

Women with a BRCA1/2 Genetic Change

Women with a BRCA1/2 Genetic Change

About 50 out of 100 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic change will get breast cancer by the age of 70

About 50 out of 100 of these women will NOT get breast cancer by age 70

Ovarian Cancer Risk

Ovarian Cancer Risk

Women In The U.S. General Population

About 1 out of 100 women in the U.S. general population will get ovarian cancer by the age of 70

About 99 out of 100 of these women will NOT get ovarian cancer by age 70

Ovarian Cancer Risk

Women with a BRCA1/2 Genetic Change

About 30 out of 100 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic change will get ovarian cancer by the age of 70

About 70 out of 100 of these women will NOT get ovarian cancer by age 70

Genetic Testing

If you are concerned about your family history, you should meet with a genetic counselor or a qualified healthcare professional.

Important things to know:

Breast Cancer Myths

Men account for 1% of all breast cancers in the US. Any unexplained lump in a male breast should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

This is probably the most popular breast cancer myth of all. It has to do with certain underarm products that contain preservatives called parabens. These chemicals can act like the hormone estrogen in the body. Estrogen is known to fuel certain breast cancers. Many breast cancers develop in the part of the breast closest to the armpit, where antiperspirants and other underarm products are used.

Now a new study shows that yes, there is evidence of parabens in 99% of breast tissue samples taken from women with breast cancer, but many of these women did not use any underarm products. Most major brands of deodorants and antiperspirants no longer contain parabens.

The amount of radiation is so low that there is no doubt that mammograms are safe. There is a standard for safety established for mammograms by the American College of Radiology.
Breast cancer can affect women of any age. Although the disease is more common in post-menopausal women, 25% of women with breast cancer are younger than 50. Younger women should have a yearly breast exam by their doctor and begin mammographic screening at age 40. A breast mass in a younger woman is much less likely to be cancer than a lump in an older woman, however, it still needs to be checked out.
Greater than 80% of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. We do know that being older and female are the greatest risk factors for breast cancer. Even if you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, you should be getting your clinical breast exams yearly and getting your yearly mammograms starting at age 40.
Diet does play a role in cancer development, but not by itself. No one food or vitamin will prevent breast cancer. At the same time, no one food is responsible for causing cancer. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and strive to get a variety of nutrients.

While mammography does catch the vast majority of breast cancers, it is only one screening tool. Women should also have a breast exam done by their healthcare provider each year. If you feel a lump, always get it checked out, even if your last mammogram was clear.

The amount of breast tissue a woman has does not affect her risk factor for developing breast cancer. Breast cancer can affect small or large breasted women.

A few years ago, a book was published stating that underwire bras may cause breast cancer. This is completely untrue and there are no credible studies to support that wearing an underwire bra can cause breast cancer.

Generally breast cancers are painless, but pain alone cannot rule out cancer. Some women also believe that a painless lump must not be cancer. Again, not true. There’s no correlation between whether the lump is painful and whether it’s cancerous. Any lump should be checked by a doctor.
Surgery will not cause the cancer to spread.

Breast cancer is not a death sentence. We have more tools in our arsenal to combat the disease, and most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer survive.

Breast cancer can recur at any time, although it is more likely to happen within the first 5 to 10 years. Even after a mastectomy, your risk of breast cancer returning is never 0%. New hormonal therapies, including tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors, may be delaying recurrence, so that the cancer is more likely to return after the woman stops taking those drugs.
What we do

Breast Cancer Risks

Factors That Do Not Increase Or Decrease Risk Of Breast Cancer

Factors Still Under Study

Personal Cancer History

Your personal cancer history also affects your risk. Any of these events in your personal history could be a sign of hereditary breast or ovarian cancer:
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