Breast Cancer Risk Factor

A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of developing a disease. Some risk factors are behavioural—you can eliminate or reduce them by creating new habits and making different lifestyle choices. Others are genetic or a combination of environmental and biomedical determinants. You are considered at risk for breast cancer if you meet the following criteria:

• A close blood relative (mother, sister, daughter) has had breast cancer.
• You have had breast cancer in the past.
• You have inherited abnormal genetic markers that indicate risk, particularly two abnormal genes: BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene one) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene two).
• You have dense breasts, which means you have a lot of fibrous or glandular tissue and not much fatty tissue in your breasts. Breast density has nothing to do with weight and can be determined through screening.
• You had your first child after age 30.
• You started menstruating early (before age 12) and / or started menopause later (after age 55).
• You are overweight.
• You drink alcohol.
• You have a sedentary lifestyle.
• You smoke.

No matter what your age, you should get screened if you have any one of the first three risk factors.