Do you know your personal risk factors for breast cancer? While no one factor is a sure sign you’ll develop the disease, it’s important to know about them. You may be able to reduce certain risks.

What you can’t control

You can’t change some risk factors. These include your:

• Biological sex. While men can get breast cancer, it’s far more common in women.
• Age. Most women with breast cancer are diagnosed after age 55. Your risk increases as you age.
• Genes. About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are hereditary. The most common cause of this type of breast cancer is a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, but there are others.
• Ethnicity. White women have a slightly higher risk for developing breast cancer in general. But under age 40, breast cancer is more common in African American women.
• Family history. Most women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease. But if your mother, sister or daughter has it, your risk is almost doubled. (Don’t forget to consider your father’s side of the family!)
• Breast density. If you have dense breasts, meaning the tissue is more fibrous than fatty, your risk is higher. This isn’t something you can feel, but it can be seen on a mammogram. About half of women 40 years and older have dense breasts.
• Menstrual history. Women who have had more menstrual cycles have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. This includes those who started their periods early (before age 12) or went through menopause later (after age 55).

Things you can change

Some risk factors are related to your lifestyle, which means you can control them. These include your:

• Alcohol use. Having one drink per day is associated with a 7% to 10% higher risk, while having two or three raises the risk to about 20%.
• Weight. The link between weight and breast cancer risk is complex, but generally your risk goes up after menopause if you’re overweight.
• Activity level. Regular exercise can reduce your risk for breast cancer, especially after menopause.
• Reproductive history. Not having children, or having your first child after age 30, slightly raises your risk. Having many pregnancies and becoming pregnant at a younger age reduces your risk.
• Choice to breastfeed. Breastfeeding may slightly lower breast cancer risk, especially if it continues for a year or more.
• Birth control use. Some birth control methods use hormones, which might increase your risk.

Screening is key

Talk to your provider about regular mammograms starting at age 40. If you need a provider, visit our Primary Care Physician Directory.

Sources: American Cancer Society; American Society of Clinical Oncology; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention