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WHAT'S NEW
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Your breast health 2003
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Be aware, be proactive and get the facts on how to protect your breast health.
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By The Canadian Cancer Society
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Be Aware
Know your body
Be aware and know your body. This is one of the most effective ways of protecting your breast health. By staying active, eating well and following breast-screening guidelines, you are doing all the right things in terms of taking steps to maintain breast health.
"When breast cancer is detected and treated early, the chances for recovery are usually better," says Dr. Barb Whylie, Director, Cancer Control Policy, Canadian Cancer Society. "All women regardless of their age should discuss the risks and benefits of mammography, clinical breast examination and breast self-examination with their doctor."
There are currently three ways in which changes in the breast are detected: mammography, clinical breast exam by a trained health professional and breast self-examination.
Mammography and clinical breast exams are the most reliable methods of finding breast cancer, but regular breast self-examination helps women to learn what is normal for their breasts.
Major risk factors for breast cancer
Talk to your doctor about breast-screening
guidelines and the risk factors that may pertain to you. The following factors play a role in breast cancer risk.
1. Being a woman
Nearly 80 per cent of breast cancers occur in women who have no other risk factors.
2. Increasing age
As you age, your risk of breast cancer increases. Most breast cancers occur in women after the age of 50.
3. Previous breast cancer
If you already have had breast cancer, there is a greater chance you may develop it again.
4. Family history
If you have a strong family history of breast cancer (if more than one first-degree relative - mother, sister has had breast cancer) you are at increased risk. The Canadian Cancer Society offers an online information aid about hereditary breast cancer under "Risk reduction" at www.cancer.ca to help women with a family history of breast cancer to better assess their personal risk.
"A one in nine risk in her lifetime." What exactly does this mean?
A woman's risk of breast cancer is not the same at each stage of her life. Over a lifetime, she has a one in nine chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer. This "five-year risk" chart shows how a woman's breast cancer risk increases as she gets older.
Age Five-year risk
30 1 in 650
35 1 in 400
40 1 in 200
45 1 in 125
50 1 in 110
60 1 in 95
70 1 in 65
80 1 in 65
If you are 30 years old, you have a one in 650 chance of developing breast cancer in the next five years. If you are 60, you have a one in 95 chance of developing breast cancer in the next five years.
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