Breast Cancer Risks: A Few Things To Be Careful About
There are a number of factors which put you at higher risk for breast cancer. Some of these things you can control (such as losing excess weight and not smoking) while others have to do with heredity and personal history, factors over which you have no control. Risk factors are good to know because early detection saves lives!
Here’s a list of risk factors for breast cancer so that you can be proactive about your health, coming in for your annual screening mammograms, and performing regular breast self exams.
- Female gender
- Older age
- Family history of breast cancer, first degree relative (son/daughter, mother/father, sister/brother)
- Personal history of breast cancer
- Other family history of breast cancer
- Diagnosis of high risk conditions on biopsy –for example, atypical ductal hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ
- Obesity
- Tobacco use
Now that you know what your risks are and what you can do to help yourself, you’re on the road to your best possible health!
Originally published 4/14/14 on mammographykc.com.
