Risks

• Every woman is at risk for breast cancer simply because she’s female.
• Over 70 percent of cases occur in women who have no identifiable risk factor.

• Age: Women age 50 and over account for 77% of new diagnoses of breast cancer
• Family History: Women whose mother or sister has had breast cancer
• Personal History: Women who have already had cancer in one breast

• Women with precancerous breast disease
• Women who have never had any children
• Women who had their first child after the age of 30
• Women who got their first period at age 12 or younger
• Women who have experienced menopause after 55
• To date, the knowledge about risk factors has not translated into practical ways to prevent cancer.
• The best opportunity for reducing the death rate is through early detection.