Breast cancer is the most common forms of cancer among American women. In fact, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Knowing the risk factors for breast cancer and discussing them with your physician can help you decide when and how often you should schedule a mammogram. Here are some of the most common risk factors that women cannot control.Below is a list of some of the most common autoimmune diseases and their symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these groups of symptoms, you should see your personal physician.
Age
As you grow older, so does your risk for breast cancer, which occurs most frequently in women ages 55 and older.
Family History
If a close relative (mother, sister, daughter) has had breast cancer, your risk doubles. If two of these relatives have had breast cancer, your risk triples. Still, the overwhelming majority of cases do not have a family history. Only about 15 percent of women with breast cancer have a close family member who has also been diagnosed with the disease.
Dense Breast Tissue
Breast tissue is called “dense” when it looks like a solid white area on a mammogram, which makes it more difficult to detect cancer. For women with dense breast tissue, the risk of breast cancer is 1.2 to 2 times higher.
Early Period and Late Menopause
Women who had their first period before age 12 or experienced menopause after age 55 have a slightly higher risk for breast cancer.
Fortunately, there are some risk factors for breast cancer that women can control. Please see the article “Take Charge” on the back page for more information.