KTVZ television interviewed Dr. Higgins during Breast Cancer Awareness Month concerning risk factors for breast cancer. Click on the video to view that interview. An overview follows on this page.
What Are Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?
When I think of risk factors, I think of them as the non-modifiable risk factors and modifiable risk factors with the non-modifiable age most cancers are diagnosed in the 50 to 70 year age group.
Breast Cancer Non-modifiable Factors
Examples of non-modifiable breast cancer risk factors:
Personal History of a breast cancer: If someone’s already had a breast cancer, they’re at higher risk of developing another breast cancer in their lifetime.
Family history still plays a significant role.
Genetic mutations: We have now identified approximately 15 inherited mutations that are all breast related. The most common and well understood is the BRC one and two, but there’s a lot of other ones, and they each one of them has a different level of risk,
Prior history of radiation: Undergoing therapies or radiation treatments in your first three decades of life.
Modifiable Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Modifiable breast cancer risk factors are composed of lifestyle choices:
- Heavier body weight is a risk
- Toxin exposures are risks
- Alcohol drinking is a risk
- Smoking is a risk
At what age should a woman start to be concerned about breast self-exams?
Current recommendations are that women in their mid 20s become more aware of their breasts and learn to do personal breast health assessments.
The calculator we turn to most is called the Tyrer-Cuzick model. It includes numerous variables for the calculation of risks and provides an individualized risk assessment score. For women with an average risk of 13% or less, one out of eight women will develop breast cancer by her 80th birthday. High risk is considered a lifetime risk of greater than 20%
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Higgins, call 541-749-7000.