We don’t know what causes breast cancer but there are some things that we know increase your chances of developing this disease. Your risk of breast cancer is greater if you are female, older, have a close relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer diagnosed before the age of 50, or if you have already had breast cancer or non-cancerous breast lumps.

Other factors that have a small influence on your chances of getting breast cancer include starting your periods early (before 12), having menopause late (after 55), being older when you have your first child (older than 30) or never having children. There is little you can do to change these risk factors. That is, you can’t keep from getting older, you can’t choose your relatives, and your choices about having children are made for other reasons. But there are some things you can do that may help reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Reducing your risk of breast cancer

• Maintain a healthy body weight. Women aged 50 or older have a greater risk of breast cancer if they are overweight or obese.
• Be physically active. Research suggests that vigorous exercise when you’re young might provide lifelong protection against breast cancer, and that even moderate physical activity as an adult can lower your risk of developing breast cancer.
• Limit or avoid drinking alcohol. Around 1 in 8 breast cancers may be attributable to alcohol consumption. If you do choose to drink, limit yourself to no more than 1 standard drink a day.
• Don’t smoke. There is no clear link between smoking and breast cancer, but toxins from cigarettes have been found in breast cells.

Detecting breast cancer

Finding breast cancer early is the most important factor in beating this disease. If you have a small or localised breast cancer (a cancer that has not spread) you have a better chance of survival than if your cancer has spread at the time it is diagnosed.

At different ages there are different things you can do to help find breast cancer early:

 Women of all ages should know how their breasts normally look and feel. Study your breasts in the mirror and feel them from time to time. See your doctor straight away if you notice any changes that are unusual for you like:

• A lump, lumpiness or thickening.
• Changes to the nipple such as a change in shape, crusting, a sore or an ul cer.
• Discharge from the nipple.
• Changes in the skin of the breast like puckering, dimpling or colour change.
• Persistent or unusual pain, if it is not related to your monthly cycle.
• A change in the size or shape of a breast.

 Women aged 50-69 should have a mammogram every two years through BreastScreen. Call 13 20 50 to book your free mammogram.

 Women over 70 may also have a free screening mammogram but the biggest benefit is for women aged 50-69.

 Women aged 40-49 can also have free mammograms, however their breast tissue is denser than older women’s and mammograms may not be as reliable.

HRT and breast cancer

If you are taking combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or plan to in the future, it's important to know that long-term use has been shown to increase your risk of breast cancer. We recommend that combined HRT only be used short-term (less than one year) and only for relief of severe menopause symptoms. Learning more and talking to your doctor is essential.

Courtesy: The Cancer Council NSW, 2005

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