What is your Risk for Breast Cancer?
76% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no risk factors; the greatest risk factor is being female.
Whether you have no personal history of breast cancer and want to decrease your risk, or whether you've had breast cancer and never want it again, it’s important to know what you can do.
Risk Factors You CAN Change
The best defense against breast cancer is a good offense. There are no perfect solutions, but you can do many things to reduce your risk of developing it:
- Buy Organic and Unprocessed Foods
- Eat Five or More Servings of Fruit and Vegetables Daily
- Get More Exercise
- Limit Alcohol Use
- Maintain a Healthy Weight
|
- Make your Grains Whole Grains
- Reduce Stress
- Reduce Your Exposure to Progesterone
- Restrict Sources of Red Meat and Other Animal Fats
- Stop Smoking
|
Risk Factors You CANNOT Change
Despite doing everything right to reduce your risk for developing breast cancer, you have some risk factors that are out of your control:
- Age
- Breast Density
- Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
- Family History
- Late Pregnancy
|
- No Pregnancy
- Menstrual history
- Personal History of Breast Cancer
- Race
- Radiation Therapy
|
Genetic Abnormalities
The most significant family history is having female blood relatives diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, diagnosed with cancer in both breasts, or diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Some women who have a strong family history of breast cancer have inherited a specific gene abnormality that increases their risk for the disease. The Breast Cancer 1 (BRCA1) and Breast Cancer 2 (BRCA2) gene abnormalities are the most common types that are linked to a high risk for breast cancer (as well as ovarian cancer.
Take a Breast Cancer risk assessment here.