Breast Cancer Is on The Rise Among Millennials – Do You Know Your Risk?

Breast cancer affects one in eight women, and incidence rates are on the rise for those in their late 20s, 30s, and early 40s. While there is no surefire way to prevent breast cancer, understanding your risk and taking proactive steps today can make all the difference tomorrow. Remember that having one risk factor, or even several, does not mean you will have breast cancer, and women with no risk factors can still develop breast cancer.

Genetic and Biological Risk Factors

Certain factors that cannot be changed, such as your family history, can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer. Women younger than 45 may be at higher risk if they have one or more of the following genetic or biological factors:

• Close relatives who were diagnosed with breast cancer before age 45, especially if more than one relative was diagnosed or a male relative had breast cancer.

• Personal or family history of ovarian cancer.

• Changes in certain breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) or close relatives with these changes.

• Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.

• Radiation therapy to the breast or chest during childhood or early adulthood.

• Previous breast cancer diagnosis or certain other breast health issues, such as lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), atypical ductal hyperplasia, or atypical lobular hyperplasia.

• Dense breasts as seen on a mammogram.

• Reproductive history resulting in increased exposure to estrogen such as starting menstruation before age 12 or menopause after age 55, having your first child after age 30, or never having children.

• Exposure to medications that use hormones, such as certain types of birth control or hormone replacement therapy.

Learning about your family history, undergoing genetic risk evaluation and testing, and going to your annual physical can help you understand which genetic or biological risk factors may affect you.
 

Other Risk Factors

Environmental or non-genetic risk factors, such as diet and physical activity, are linked to 40% of cancer cases and almost half of all cancer deaths in the U.S. Speak with your physician about what changes you can make to reduce your risk.

•  A diet high in foods like red meat or ultra-processed food can increase breast cancer risk among premenopausal women. However, substituting legumes for one serving of meat per day can lower breast cancer risk by 19% among premenopausal women.

• Growing research suggests being physically active helps reduce risk.

• Similar to other cancer types, your risk of breast cancer may rise as your alcohol consumption increases.

• Being overweight or obese can raise breast cancer risk as well as the risk of breast cancer recurrence among women who have had the disease.

• Emerging research suggests exposure to high levels of air pollution or other chemical pollutants may increase risk of certain breast cancer types, such as estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer.

Work with your physician to complete breast cancer risk assessments to evaluate your personal risk based on your overall health, number of childbirths and age at those births, and previous benign breast disease, among other factors.

You Know Your Breast Cancer Risk. Now What?

Once you have met with your healthcare provider to determine your breast cancer risk, it’s time to decide your next steps, which might include:

• Screenings: Early detection of breast cancer can greatly affect treatment options and outcomes. Depending on your age and risk level, your healthcare provider may recommend certain screening tests, such as breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI screenings, or a combination.

• Lifestyle changes: Your healthcare provider can provide personalized recommendations for maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce cancer risk.

• Preventive measures: For women at high risk of breast cancer, prophylactic surgery (also called preventive or risk-reducing surgery) may be appropriate.

• Staying updated and informed: Your breast cancer risk can change over time. Keeping up with any changes in your family history of breast cancer and learning more about breast cancer risk and prevention can help you have ongoing, informed conversations with your physician.

The more you know about your breast cancer risk, the better equipped you’ll be to take steps toward prevention and peace of mind. Talk to your healthcare provider today about your breast cancer risk to develop a personalized plan for early detection and risk reduction.

This article appeared in the October editions of Houston Medical Times and Austin Medical Times.