Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in India. With advances in medicine, breast cancer is treatable if caught early! However, if the cancer grows to advanced stages, it gets harder to treat. Unfortunately, in India nearly 60% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at stage III or IV of the disease. We don’t have widespread preventive screenings that are the best tool for early detection. Most women are also unaware of the signs & symptoms of breast cancer, and don’t notice anything until it is quite advanced and serious. So, it is important that you learn to know your body, understand your risks so you can take action when you need it!

About 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. We don’t know why women get cancer. However, we do know the factors that affect your risk of getting cancer. Understanding your personal risk factors can help you evaluate healthy choices you need to be making, and take timely preventive actions to mitigate your risk.

Risk factors for breast cancer.

Age: Your risk of breast cancer increases as you get older. The median age for cancer diagnosis in Indian women was 53 – that is half the women were diagnosed with breast cancer at age 53 or older.

Personal History: If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer before, you’re three to four times more likely to develop a new cancer, unrelated to the first one, in either the other breast or in another part of the same breast.

Genetics: About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are thought to be caused by genes passed from parent to child. While there are several types of abnormal genes that can increase the risk of breast cancer, alterations in two genes called BRCA1 or BRCA2 are known to significantly increase your risk.

Family History: Women with ‘first-degree’ relatives — sister, mother, or daughter — who have been diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher risk of developing the disease. The risk is considered moderate in cases of second- or third-degree relatives such as aunts, grandmothers, and cousins.

Menstruation History: Longer lifetime exposure to your own estrogen increases your risk of getting breast cancer. Women who started their periods before age 12 are at higher risk. Similarly, women who have never been pregnant or started menopause after age 55 are at a higher risk.

Childbirth & breastfeeding: Getting pregnant after age 35 or never having children puts you at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Breastfeeding can lower breast cancer risk, especially if you breastfeed for longer than one year.

Dense Breasts: Women with dense breasts – that is, having more fibrous than fatty tissue –  have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Being Overweight: Overweight and obese women – especially those with high belly fat – have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer, especially after menopause.

Drinking Alcohol & Smoking: Research has shown that both these habits can increase your risk of certain types of breast cancer, especially in younger, pre-menopausal women.  

Using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy): Some types of HRT can slightly increase your risk of breast cancer. Sharing your complete medical history can help your doctor evaluate which type of HRT is right for you, and whether the benefits outweigh the risk.