About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females in the United States. Each year, more than 300,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed, and over a lifetime that is an average of 1 in 8 females. An estimated 1% of males also will develop breast cancer.
The good news is that both regular exams and screenings for breast cancer increase the chances of catching it early and treating it effectively.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
The most common risk factors for breast cancer are:
Being female
99% of breast cancer patients are women. However, it is still possible for males to develop breast cancer. For females, risk factors include:
- First menstrual period before age 12
- Menopause starting after age 55
- Having dense breast tissue
- First childbirth after 35
- Never having children
- Having a non-cancerous breast disease
Age
Risk rises as you age. However, it is important to know that breast cancer can develop at younger ages.
Family History
Most women who develop breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease. But you have a higher risk if you have one or more close family members (mother, sister, daughter, father, brother) with breast cancer.
You also carry an increased risk if you have family members with other types of cancers, such as ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, or metastatic prostate cancer.
Hereditary/Genetic Risk
Up to 10% of breast cancers are caused by gene mutations inherited from a parent.
BRCA1/BRCA2: Mutations in these genes are the most common cause of hereditary breast cancer. They increase your risk for developing breast cancer at an earlier age. You also are at risk for developing ovarian cancer. Gene mutations can be passed to you from your mother or your father.
HER2-Positive: These mutations are found in about 15-20% of all breast cancers and can signal that you have a more aggressive cancer. HER2 cancers are highly treatable with precision therapies.
Other gene mutations are linked to increased risk but are not as common as BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you should think about genetic testing. These tests will look for gene mutations to gauge your risk.
At Siteman Cancer Center, we offer comprehensive genetic counseling and screenings and have the expertise to evaluate the results. We offer screenings in multiple locations.
Lifestyle Risk Factors
Some things in your overall lifestyle can increase your risk for cancer, such as a poor diet, lack of regular exercise, and obesity.
We can help evaluate your own risk factors. The WashU Medicine physicians and researchers at Siteman Cancer Center have developed a specific risk assessment tool for many diseases and cancers called Your Disease Risk. Use it to learn more about your breast cancer risk and get personalized tips for lowering it.
You can also use the National Cancer Institute’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment online tool.
These digital tools should be used only as general guidelines and should be discussed with your doctor.
Early Signs That May Signal Breast Cancer
The first step of lifelong breast health is being self-aware about your own breasts. If you know how your breasts feel and look throughout your life, you can more quickly notice any changes that should be discussed with your doctor, no matter your age.
Things to keep a look out for:
- Lump or “knots” in your breast or armpit
- Changes in the size or shape of your breast
- Dimpling or puckering on your breast
- Unusual changes in your nipple(s), such as a discharge or if the nipple has turned inward
- Unexplained and persistent breast pain or redness
The power of healthy living is hard to overestimate. A large percentage of cancers and many other chronic diseases can be prevented by things like eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, keeping weight in check, and getting important screening tests.
The best part? These are things under your control. Take some simple steps to improve your health, and help your family do the same.
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