Breast Cancer - Who is at Risk?
By Chin Lee
Breast cancer affects millions of women each year. Understanding, regular exams (both self-exams and doctor exams) and early diagnosis are the keys to successful treatment of breast cancer. One very important part of understanding breast cancer is understanding the risk factors. Some women have high risks of developing the cancer than others. However, even if you are not in the high-risk category, you still have the chance of developing breast cancer.
Here, we are going to discuss the risk factors and explain how to tell if you have are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Before we get into the specific risks, it is important to understand, that if you do fall into this high-risk category, more frequent exams, are necessary, as are starting mammograms at an earlier age as well. Typically, doctors recommend starting yearly mammograms between the ages of 35 and 40. However, those in the high-risk categories will need to start receiving mammograms earlier and more frequently.
Age Factor
The unfortunate fact of breast cancer is that the older you get, the higher the risk of developing the disease.
- Women up to 39 years of age, have a 1 in 231 chance of developing breast cancer.
- Women from 40 to 59 years of age, have a 1 in 25 chance of developing breast cancer.
- Women from 60 to 79 years of age have a 1 in 15 chance of developing breast cancer.
- Women from 80 to 90 years of age have a 1 in 7 change of developing breast cancer.
- By 90 years of age, a woman s overall risk of breast cancer in their lifetime is 14%.
These numbers tell us that all women have a 14% chance of developing the disease in their lifetime. The older we get the more vulnerable our bodies become. Things were able to fight off in our younger years we may no longer be able to fight off.
A Personal Historical Outlook
Your risks of developing breast cancer also depend on your personal history. If you have had breast cancer once and are in remission, the chance of developing it a second time is even greater. Studies show that women who have had a breast cancer diagnosis once before run a risk of developing it at a rate of 1% yearly. In other words, if you have been in remission for 10 years, you have a 10% risk of developing the disease again. The good news is that technology has allowed for the production of medication that will aid in reduction of that risk.
A Family Outlook
One thing women should understand is that simply because a family has had breast cancer it does not indicate that you are at a higher risk of developing it as well. There are several factors that are involved when it comes to determining family history and increasing the risk of breast cancer.
In some cases, breast cancer can be caused by abnormal genes that have been inherited from family members. These factors are distinctly different than those of the average age factors. Some things taken into consideration include:
(1) Immediate Family Members - Such as Daughter, Sister, or Mother with breast cancer.
(2) Multiples - If several generations have been diagnosed with ovarian or breast cancer, this could increase risk.
(3) Age - Younger age and breast cancer could signify an abnormality, such as 50 or younger.
Breast cancer doesn t take sides, it can be an inherited gene from either the father or the mother. Regular testing, self exams, and knowledge can be your best defense.
Want to know more about Breast Cancer? Please check out href=”http://www.mountainlaurelcancer.
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Chin Lee is the webmaster of href=”http://www.mountainlaurelcancer.org/breastcancer/breastcancer.html” mce_href=”http://www.mountainlaurelcancer.org/breastcancer/breastcancer.html”>MountainLaurelCancer.org (Breast Cancer)
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