How to reduce your breast cancer risk

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. So, you may be wondering how to avoid breast cancer.

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, there are ways to reduce your risk.

As a breast medical oncologist, my top advice is to practice breast awareness, follow screening guidelines and tell your doctor if you have a family history of cancer.

Ahead, we explore these topics in more detail. 

Understand breast cancer risk factors

First, it can be helpful to understand the factors that put someone at a higher risk for breast cancer.

Breast cancer risk factors include:

Sex 

Breast cancer is more common in women, although men can also get breast cancer.

Age

Breast cancer usually develops after menopause for women. 

On average, men are usually diagnosed with breast cancer between ages 60 and 70, according to the National Cancer Institute. 

Family history

Breast cancer runs in families. You may be at a higher risk of breast cancer if you have a first- or second-degree blood relative who has or had breast cancer. A first-degree relative is a parent, sibling or child. A second-degree relative is a grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or half-sibling. 

Men with a parent, sibling or child with breast cancer have double the risk of breast cancer.

Genetic mutations 

Mutations are abnormal changes in genes. These mutations can be hereditary, which means they are passed down in families. Some genetic mutations can increase the risk of breast and other cancers. One example of this is Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome. It is caused by mutations to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and impacts their ability to repair DNA. Additionally, mutations to other genes, including CDH1, PALB2, CHEK2 and PTEN, can lead to a higher risk of breast cancer.

Breast conditions

Certain non-cancerous breast tissue conditions can increase the risk for breast cancer. These include hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ. These are usually found during a mammogram and diagnosed after a biopsy.

Dense breast tissue 

A mammogram can also reveal if a woman has dense breast tissue. This means the breast has more glandular tissue than fat tissue. Having dense breast tissue can slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. Glandular tissue and tumors can be hard to tell apart as they both appear white on a mammogram.

Estrogen levels

Many factors impact a woman’s hormones, and, in turn, her breast cancer risk. For example, women are at a higher risk for breast cancer if they: 

• begin menstruating earlier in life, 
• have no full-term pregnancies,
• first get pregnant after age 30,
• use post-menopausal hormone therapy options that contain estrogen and/or
• take the birth control pill 

In contrast, women with multiple pregnancies or those who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast cancer. This is due to how the ovarian cycle impacts estrogen levels. Not ovulating means fewer spikes in estrogen, which reduces the risk of breast cancer.

Practice breast awareness

People of all ages and genders can practice breast awareness.

Note any changes to the way your breasts look or feel. These changes may include: 

• Color
• Hardness
• Skin thickness
• Bumps 
• Swelling

If you do notice a change in your breast, you might wonder if you should head to the doctor right away.

However, a woman’s breast tissue can change based on their menstrual cycle; breasts may feel denser or softer at different points during the cycle. One cycle is a month, so don't expect things to change within a day. 

Instead, keep an eye on the change. If it doesn’t go away after a month, make an appointment with your doctor.  

Get screened for breast cancer

In addition to practicing breast awareness, you should also get screened for breast cancer when you are eligible.

Breast cancer screening methods depend on your age and risk for breast cancer.

Women between ages 25 and 30 can ask their doctor for a breast cancer risk assessment. This can determine whether they are at average or high risk for breast cancer. This risk assessment can also determine when they should begin other types of breast cancer screenings. 

Women at average risk for breast cancer should receive a clinical breast exam every one to three years between ages 25 and 39. During a clinical breast exam, a health care provider examines the breasts for any lumps or abnormalities.

Starting at age 40, women should receive an annual mammogram in addition to their yearly clinical breast exam. A mammogram, or breast X-ray, allows a doctor to see any abnormalities in the breast tissue that are too small to feel during a clinical breast exam. Mammograms can help doctors detect breast cancer earlier when it is easiest to treat. 

Learn more about what to expect at a mammogram.

Tell your doctor about your family history of breast cancer 

It is important to let your doctor know if breast cancer runs in your family.

This allows your care team to assess your risk and determine when it is appropriate for you to begin breast cancer screening. If you are at a higher risk for breast cancer, you may need to start screening earlier than what is listed on screening guidelines.

Additionally, those with a family history of breast cancer may be candidates for genetic counseling and testing. Genetic testing reveals whether a patient has a genetic mutation that puts them at an increased risk of breast cancer. If genetic mutations are found, your care team will make recommendations for breast cancer screening based on the genetic mutation found.

Focus on healthy habits 

Your habits may also impact your risk for breast cancer.

Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer. For cancer prevention, it is best not to drink. Women who choose to drink alcohol should limit themselves to one drink per day; men should limit themselves to two drinks a day.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is also important for cancer prevention. Post-menopausal weight gain in women may be related to an increased risk of breast cancer. However, weight gain doesn’t directly lead to breast cancer. Rather, it impacts hormones and other biological factors. For example, fat tissue can produce estrogen and other hormones that can increase inflammation and open the pathway to potential cancer promotion.

I encourage healthy lifestyle habits such as eating a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity. 

Focus on choosing healthy foods. For example, when building your plate, aim to fill two-thirds of it with whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds. The remaining one-third can be lean animal protein or plant-based protein.

A healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet and getting your cancer screening exams are all important steps to reduce your risk of cancer.

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.