Take Control of Your Breast Cancer Risk Factors

The American Cancer Society estimates that 297,790 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, including 5,430 South Carolinians. Although those statistics can seem jarring, there’s a lot you can do to decrease your breast cancer risk factors.

“Knowing your risk of developing breast cancer is an important step in protecting your overall health,” says Dr. Tara Grahovac, FACS, a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgeon with the Beaufort Memorial Breast Care & Surgery Program. “Talk with your OBGYN or another women’s health provider about your health and other factors that may increase your risk. From there, you may be able to proactively take steps to reduce your risk or add to your annual breast screening regimen.”

Read More: Breast Cancer Screening for Women With Dense Breasts

Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Can and Can’t Change

Many factors that increase breast cancer risk are beyond your control. They include:

• Being of advanced age
• Having a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer in your close relatives
• Having a history of breast cancer or certain noncancerous breast conditions
• Having been treated with radiation therapy for certain conditions, such as lymphoma, or being exposed to ionized radiation in other ways
• Having dense breasts
• Having inherited gene mutations, such as mutations to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes
• Menstruating before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55
• Never having a full-term pregnancy or having a first pregnancy after age 35

There are other risk factors, however, that you can control. Most of these have to do with your lifestyle. You may be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer if you:

• Are overweight or obese, particularly after menopause
• Are physically inactive
• Drink alcohol
• Smoke
• Take hormone replacement therapy after menopause
• Use oral contraceptives

Read More: Unraveling the Mystery of Breast Cancer Metastasis

Should You Be Concerned?

If you’re at an increased risk of breast cancer due to unchangeable risk factors, talk with your medical providers about those risk factors and what you can do to protect your health. Knowing you have these risk factors can help you make decisions about your medical care, including when to start screening mammograms and if additional breast imaging each year is warranted.

“Depending on your specific risk factors, you may be recommended for genetic counseling, along with earlier, more frequent or enhanced screening,” Dr. Grahovac says. “Those who have a particularly high risk of breast cancer may even benefit from risk-reducing medications or preventive surgery with a bilateral mastectomy. Preventive surgery is a big decision, however, so we work with women to assess their risk level and help them weigh the pros and cons before proceeding. Identifying certain gene mutations could lead to increased surveillance or preventive surgery for additional linked cancers, such as ovarian cancer.”

6 Ways to Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk

If your cancer risk factors are primarily related to your lifestyle, changing your habits or talking to your provider can have a positive impact on reducing your risk. What can you do to lower your risk of breast cancer? Start here:

1. Eat a healthy diet. While there’s no definitive link tying specific foods with a higher (or lower) risk of breast cancer, what you eat does matter. A largely plant-based diet, where you’re filling at least half your plate at meals with fruits and vegetables, is tied with a lower risk of many cancers and other serious health conditions.
2. Exercise more. Being more physically active lowers your breast cancer risk. Aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. That means briskly walking, dancing, gardening or jogging for just 30 minutes a day, five days per week.
3. Limit your alcohol consumption. Research has shown that drinking even a small amount of alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer. Stick with the recommended amount of no more than one drink per day for women.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. Staying at a healthy weight is important throughout life, but it’s especially important after menopause. Talk with your medical provider about what a healthy weight looks like for you. The tips above about can help you lose weight and stay at a healthy weight once you get there.
5. Quit smoking. Smoking is harmful for your health, and an increased risk of breast cancer is just one of many reasons to quit. There are many different smoking cessation methods, including tools like nicotine gum or patches, that can help you successfully leave the cigarettes behind.
6. Reconsider your meds. Taking combined hormone replacement therapy, including both estrogen and progesterone, after menopause is tied to a slightly higher risk of breast cancer in some cases. Some studies have also suggested certain hormonal-based birth control could increase risk, but research has been inconclusive, so talk with your OBGYN or another medical provider about whether you should consider changing your contraception or medications.

Your risk factors aren’t the ultimate determination of whether you’ll develop breast cancer. However, knowing your risk can help you make educated choices about your health care and your lifestyle — and if you’re 40 or older, make sure you’re having annual mammograms. Screenings can make a big impact.

Wondering whether you’re at an increased risk of developing breast cancer? Find an OBGYN who can help you keep an eye on your risk.