Breast cancer is the 2nd most common cancer type in women in the US. However, remission is much more attainable when diagnosed early, which is why it is imperative to keep up with Breast Cancer screening and know your risk factors.
Common risk factors for Breast Cancer are:
- Increasing age
- Being female
- Obesity
- Inherited genes (such as BRCA1)
- Family history of Breast Cancer
- Radiation exposure
Although many of these factors are inherent, leading a healthy and balanced lifestyle can go a long way to counteract these risks.
Screening for Breast Cancer
Women ages 40-44 should starting thinking about screening for Breast Cancer, and women 45-54 should be getting annual mammograms in order to catch any tumors early on.
Completing self exams can also be effective at detecting cancer, however they haven’t shown to be any more helpful than simply completing routine mammograms. If you notice any abnormal lumps or changes in the breast, please report to your healthcare provider immediately.
Further resources
If you want to learn more about risk factors or screening methods, check out the following articles:
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/lifestyle-related-breast-cancer-risk-factors.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/risk_factors.htm
Analyze your family health history and determine your risk for Breast Cancer with this helpful tool: https://www.komen.org/fhht/index.html