Breast cancer risk
Assess your breast cancer risk
Under 40: Learn your risk factors
Family or Personal History
Having a first degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) diagnosed with breast cancer doubles a your risk of developing breast cancer. With two, first degree relatives who’ve experienced breast cancer, you have five times the risk of getting breast cancer as compared to a woman with no family history.
Reproductive Factors
Pregnancy, breast feeding, birth control, and some hormone treatments can factor into raising or decreasing your risk of breast cancer.
Obesity/Physical Activity
If you have a BMI that classifies as obese (>30), your risk of breast cancer doubles versus a woman classified as lean. In addition, regular exercise has been shown to have a protective effect in decreasing your chances of developing breast cancer.
Environmental Factors
Research is ongoing as to the effects of environmental chemicals and their correlation to breast cancer. In general, minimizing consumption of processed foods and eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables (organic if possible) is recommended. Research has also shown that breast cancer risk increases with higher alcohol consumption.
Not sure? Consider genetic counseling and testing
If you're concerned about your risk, talk to your doctor. As a first step, your doctor might recommend a risk assessment or speaking with our genetic counselor. They can review your family history in detail, along with other factors, and explain more about genetic testing. A referral is required from your personal physician for an appointment. Contact our Genetics and Survivorship Counselor at the High-Risk Clinic.
What is a High-Risk Clinic?
Our High-Risk Breast Clinic is for individuals who have a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer. This service focuses on proactive measures, including risk assessments, genetic testing, early detection, and personalized prevention strategies.
Over 40: Follow the guidelines. Get screened
Mammography is the most widely available and scientifically validated screening test that exists today. Varying sources report different ages to begin regular mammography. With more instances of breast cancer being diagnosed at earlier ages, most of the physicians at East Jefferson believe that annual screening should begin at age 40, especially if you have a family history or have any of the other risk factors associated with the disease. Talk to your personal physician to choose what’s right for you.
According to the American Cancer Society, if you don’t have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, or a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer (such as in a BRCA gene), and have not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, their recommendations are
- Women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.
- Women 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
- Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.
- All women should understand what to expect when getting a mammogram for breast cancer screening – what the test can and cannot do.
Clinical breast exams (physical exams done by a health professional) are not recommended for breast cancer screening among average-risk women at any age.
Schedule a mammogram 504.503.4164, select 2
Questions and scheduling breast testing, breast biopsies, and other breast procedures, call the Breast Care Center 504.503.6289.
