Breast Cancer is the most commonly reported cancer in Oregon, and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women. What are your risks, and how can you reduce them?
Risks of developing breast cancer
Talk with your doctor if you have any of these risk factors.
- Age - The risk of breast cancer increases significantly with age. The specialists at Asante Imaging encourage all women over 40 to get a screening mammogram every year.
- Genetics - A woman with an inherited alteration in two genes, BRCA1 or BRCA2, has up to an 80 percent chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime.
- Family history - 5 to 10 percent of women who get breast cancer had a mother, sister or daughter ("first degree" relative) with breast cancer.
- Breast lesions - A previous breast biopsy result of atypical hyperplasia (lobular or ductal) increases a woman's breast cancer risk by four to five times.
- Pregnancy before age 18.
- Early onset of menopause.
- Surgical removal of the ovaries before age 37.
- Regular use of tobacco or alcohol and over age 40.
Ways to reduce your risks
You can reduce your risk for getting breast cancer or at least increase your odds of finding it early when it is still treatable.
- Limit yourself to two or three alcoholic drinks a week.
- Exercise and eat healthy. Studies show women who exercise at least three times a week (more often is better) and eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day significantly lower their risk of breast cancer or having a recurrence of breast cancer.
- Maintain your body weight, or lose weight if you're overweight. Research shows that being overweight or obese (especially if you're past menopause) increases your risk, especially if you put on the weight as an adult.
Early detection is key
The American Cancer Society reports the five-year breast cancer survival rate after successful treatment to be:
- >99% for localized breast cancer.
- 87% for regional breast cancer.
- 32% for distant breast cancer.
