Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the United States. There is no one way to prevent the disease, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.
According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women will develop breast cancer over their lifetime. Certain risk factors make you more likely to develop breast cancer than others, some you can change, others you can’t.
We’re Here for You
The Clark Center for Breast Imaging: To schedule a mammogram or breast ultrasound, call 215-345.2274. Doylestown Health’s Cancer Institute: To schedule an appointment with a genetic counselor, call 267.885.1864.
Further Reading
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/cancer/breast
National Cancer Institute: cancer.gov/types/breast/patient
American Cancer Society: cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer
About Clark Center for Breast Imaging
With advanced screening options, the Clark Center for Breast Imaging at Doylestown Hospital, offers state-of-the-art medical imaging technology for early detection, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatment of breast disease, close to home.
For more information, visit DoylestownHealth.org/BreastServices
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Is it Possible to Lower My Risk of Breast Cancer?
DoylestownHealth.org/Cancer
Risk Factors You Cannot Change
Aging: The chance of getting breast cancer increases as you age. Most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.
Previous Medical History
• Breast Cancer: If you have had breast cancer, you are more likely to get it again.
• Benign/Non-Cancerous Breast Conditions: Some noncancerous breast diseases such as atypical ductal hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.
• Radiation: If you have had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts before age 30, you have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.
Genetic Mutations: Women who have inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Family History: Your risk for breast cancer is higher if you have a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on either your mother’s or father’s side of the family who have had breast or ovarian cancer. Having a first-degree male relative with breast cancer also raises your risk.
Dense Breast Tissue: Dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue. This sometimes makes it hard to see tumors on a mammogram. Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer.
Reproductive History: If your menstrual period started before age 12 and/or menopause began after age 55, it exposes you to estrogen longer. This raises your risk of breast cancer.
Things You Can Do to Lower Your Risk
Diet and Exercise: Obesity can increase your breast cancer risk. Maintain a healthy weight or talk to your provider about ways to lose weight. Exercising and being active also lowers your risk of breast cancer.
Pregnancy: Delivering a child and breastfeeding lowers your risk of breast cancer, especially if you have your first full-term pregnancy before age 30.
Limit your alcohol intake or don’t drink at all: Alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer by raising estrogen levels in the body even if you are post-menopausal. That risk is increased by the amount of alcohol you consume. While any amount of alcohol increases risk, it is suggested that women limit their intake to no more than one drink per day (equivalent to the alcohol content in one 4 oz. glass of wine).
Avoid hormone replacement therapy: Some forms of hormone replacement therapy (those that include both estrogen and progesterone) can raise your risk for breast cancer when taken for more than five years. Talk to your gynecologist to decide what is best for you. Certain oral contraceptives (birth control pills) also have been found to raise breast cancer risk.
If You Are at Higher Risk
If you are at higher risk for breast cancer, there are some extra steps you can take to protect yourself.
Get extra screening tests: Along with screening mammograms, add screening tests like breast ultrasound and breast MRI.
Go through genetic counseling and testing for breast cancer risk: Talk to your provider about the option of genetic counseling. Genetic counselors can review your risks, recommend tests, and explain the results. The board-certified genetic counselors and physicians of Doylestown Health’s Cancer Risk and Genetics Program work hand in hand to help you assess your risk.
Take medicine to lower breast cancer risk: Your provider might suggest antiestrogens or other medicines that block or lower estrogen in your body to help lower your risk.
Undergo preventive surgery: You and your provider might decide to do a preventive (also called prophylactic) mastectomy (removal of breast tissue) or a preventive oophorectomy (removal of ovaries, another source of estrogen) to lower your risk of breast cancer.
Be available for close observation: You might find that taking medicine or surgery is not for you. In that case, your provider might suggest following you closely. This might entail more regular office visits for breast exams and ongoing risk assessment.
Overall, the good news is that there are steps you can take to lower your risk, and if breast cancer is found early through regular screening (self-breast exams and mammograms), it is more likely to be treatable.
