Who is at high risk of Breast Cancer?

Since it was first diagnosed in ancient Egypt during 1600 BC, as mentioned in the ancient texts of the Edwin Smith Papyrus, when it was described as an untreatable disease, breast cancer has come a long way. From being fear-inducing to being readily manageable, it has swiftly changed the definition thanks to the advent of medical science and some leading breast cancer doctors like Dr. Manish Singhal. However, the risk factors have evolved too and the number of women at risk as well. 

In 1940, the lifetime risk of breast cancer was 5%, that is 1 in 20. In 2019, the risk had increased to 13% or, simply put, one in 8.

But who can get breast cancer? Is every woman at risk? That depends on the risk factors. In this blog, we will discuss the risk factors of breast cancer.

Who is at a higher breast cancer risk?

People often wonder if they can get breast cancer or not. Experts believe that there is no 100% foolproof way to determine who might develop breast cancer and who might not. However, multiple risk factors can help determine who has the higher risk of developing it and who doesn’t. Here are the said risk factors of breast cancer. 

Unchangeable risk factors

Age

Some other ways to combat such infections are:

The risk of breast cancer increases as people age. 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer every year are 45 years of age or older. 43% of women are 65 years of age or older.

Genetics

According to experts, 5-10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary. Carriers with inherited mutations in certain genes, like BRCA1 and BRCA2, are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer. The chances for carriers with BRCA1 mutation developing breast cancer are at about 72% by the age of 80. For those with the hereditary gene mutation in the BRCA2 gene, the chances of developing breast cancer are at about 69%. Other than BRCA1 and BRCA2, there are several other abnormal genes and gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer.

History (Previous breast cancer or other breast diseases)

Women with a history of breast cancer are more likely to get breast cancer again. For example, if someone had ductal carcinoma (DCIS) or invasive breast cancer, they are three to four times more likely to develop breast cancer in the future. This is not recurrent breast cancer; it is a new one altogether. Certain non-cancerous breast diseases like atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ can also be associated with higher breast cancer risk.

Reproductive History

Early menstruation before the age of 12, starting menopause post 55 years of age, both can be linked to breast cancer. This is because both increase the lifetime exposure to endogenous (self) estrogen.

Dense Breasts

Dense, fibrous breasts having more connective tissue than fatty tissue can sometimes make it difficult to see tumors on a mammogram. However, women with dense breasts are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer.

Family History

If a woman’s first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter, etc.) has had a history of breast cancer, her risk of breast cancer is also higher. The risk is way higher in cases where the first-degree relative developed breast cancer before menopause and had cancer in both breasts. If multiple family members from her mother’s or father’s side have had breast cancer or ovarian cancer, that too counts as a risk factor. A first-degree male relative (father, son, brother) with breast cancer can also add to the risk of breast cancer. One first-degree relative with breast cancer doubles a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, two first-degree relatives with breast cancer triples the risk.

Previous radiation therapy experience

Women who have received radiation therapy, especially to the breasts or chest for treatment of other diseases like Hodgkin’s lymphoma, before 30 years of age, are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer later.

Women who had taken diethylstilbestrol (DES)

This isn’t very common, but women who had taken the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) during the period 1940-1971 to prevent miscarriage are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Not only that but even their children, especially daughters, are also at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Changeable Risk Factors

Physical inactivity

Being overweight, especially with the weight distribution concentrated at the waist mostly due to higher calorie & fat intake, is a great risk factor. This happens especially after menopause.

Hormone intake

Many women are under hormone replacement therapy during menopause. For women going through hormone replacement therapy, including both estrogen and progesterone for more than five years, the risk of developing breast cancer is higher.

History of reproduction

If a woman’s first pregnancy is after 30 years of age, if she has not breastfed, or if she never had a full-term pregnancy, she is at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Alcohol Intake

The more alcohol a woman drinks, the more her risk of developing breast cancer increases.

Wrapping up

Risk factors can increase a person’s chance of getting breast cancer. However, having one or multiple risk factors does not mean you will develop breast cancer. There is no known formula to tell whether you will surely get breast cancer or not. Some women with one or more risk factors never develop breast cancer, while some women without any apparent risk factors do. So, if you have one or some of the risk factors, do not panic. Keep an eye out for changes in your body, keep getting required tests done, and you’ll do great. If you need help or consultation, you can always talk to an expert like Dr. Manish Singhal, a top breast cancer doctor.

Note

Dr. Manish Singhal offers top-of-the-line, highly updated breast cancer treatment in Delhi NCR and Noida. He and his team have handled multiple cases of breast cancer over the years of practice. They have the knowledge, the latest know-how, and the modern technology to handle all the diverse cases of breast cancer.