Risk-Factors
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
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.
Major risks:
- 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
Other risks:
- 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.