Get the Real Facts on Your Breast Cancer Risk

The reports of what might or might not put you at risk for breast cancer can leave your head spinning. Six simple questions can help clear the air.

If any of these answers concern you, talk to your doctor. And remember: The majority of women who get breast cancer don’t fall into specific high-risk categories.

1. How old are you? Risk increases with age. Most breast cancer cases occur in women age 50 and older. Cancer changes develop slowly over time—from normal to more aggressive stages. For this reason, breast cancer is more common among older women.

2. When did you get your first period? Women who started menstruating before age 12 have an increased risk for developing breast cancer later in life. These women have had longer exposure to the hormone estrogen—which may be linked to breast cancer.

3. At what age did you have your first child? Women who had their first full-term pregnancy after age 30 have an increased risk for breast cancer. Women who have never had a child also have an increased risk.

4. How many first-degree relatives have had the disease? Many women who get breast cancer have no family history. But a positive diagnosis in your sisters, daughters, or mother—especially before age 50—increases your own chances. This risk may increase more if there’s a family history of both breast and ovarian cancer.

5. Have you had any previous breast biopsies—whether positive or negative? When a doctor removes a sample of tissue or cells from the breast to check for cancer, a woman is at a higher risk for breast cancer. The tests don’t cause cancer by themselves, but whatever has prompted the concern might.

6. What is your race? This is the least influential factor. Yet it can still help determine your risk. For example, Caucasian women are hit most often by breast cancer. But African-American women have the lowest survival rates.

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