Breast Cancer: Risk Factors
Knowing your risk factors helps you take action to catch breast cancer early.
Risk factors specific to breast cancer may include genetic background, lifestyle choices, obesity, age and more. Although these things may increase your odds to develop the disease, they do not definitively point to a probable diagnosis. In fact, some women who have breast cancer have may not have any of these risk factors:
• Gender
• Age
• Race
• Genetic predisposition
• Previous history of breast cancer
• Family history of breast cancer
• History of ovarian cancer
• Prolonged exposure to estrogen
• Medical conditions of the breast
• Obesity
• Tobacco use
• Alcohol use
The specific steps you can take to minimize your chances for breast cancer and potentially prevent it include:
• Routine self and physician breast exams
• Annual mammograms for women 40 years of age and older
• Smart lifestyle and health choices
• Regular physical exams