Who gets breast cancer?

Anyone can get breast cancer.  For example, did you know…

• the older a woman is, the more likely she is to get breast cancer?
• white women are more likely to get breast cancer than women of any other racial or ethnic group?  They also have a better chance of survival, primarily because their cancer is usually detected earlier.
• African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.
• men can get breast cancer too, although it is rare.  Less than one of every 100 cases of breast cancer in the U.S. occurs in men

 Known and probable risk factors:

• Being a woman
• Getting older
• Having a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Having a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
• Having a previous biopsy showing hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ
• Having your first period before age 12
• Starting menopause after age 55
• Never having children
• Having your first child after age 30
• Having a mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes
• Drinking more than one alcoholic drink per day
• Being overweight after menopause or gaining weight as an adult
• Currently or recently using combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy (HRT) 

YOUR BEST DEFENSE

 The best way to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages is to routinely check your breasts for signs and symptoms of the disease.  There are three basic methods.

•  BREAST SELF-EXAM (BSE)

Breast self-exam involves two main steps, looking at and feeling your breasts for any changes.  If you notice any change in the normal look or feel of your breasts, see your health care provider.  All women should perform monthly BSE by age 20. 

• MAMMOGRAMS

 Mammograms are x-ray pictures of the breast.  They can detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, even before a lump can be felt.  All women over 40 should have a mammogram every year.  If you are younger that 40 with either a family history of breast cancer or other concerns about personal risk, talk with your health care provider about risk assessment, when to start getting mammograms and how often to have them.

•  CLINICAL BREAST EXAM

A clinical breast exam is performed by a health care provider who carefully checks your breasts and underarm areas for any lumps or changes that may be present.  Many women have a clinical breast exam performed when they get their Pap test.  Women should have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years between the ages of 20 and 39 and every year after 40.

LINKS:

Many resources exist for women who are looking for breast screening or for women (and men) who have learned that they have breast cancer and want more information. Since the goal of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is to not duplicate information and programs that already exist, the information on these pages has been collected from many other resources. If you are interested in information about breast cancer, we encourage you to go to the Komen National website www.komen.org and under the heading "Helping You" click on the link "Breast self exam".

We also provide links to many other web sites. Since this information changes, we are unable to confirm the validity of information from other sites, but in general, we have attempted to select agencies and organizations that are well-respects and provide scientifically sound information. There are many other sites that provide information about cancer – and we would urge you to read all of them with a critical eye.

Community Resources
Breast Health Resoiurces