To determine the answer to question, you need to evaluate your risk factors. Risk factors come in two different types those that you can change (and should as soon as possible) and those that you cannot.
Eight Risk Factors That You Cannot Change
1. Being female
2. Aging
3. Having a blood relative that has had cancer (specifically breast)
4. Race
5. Whether you or your mother had treatment with DES (this drug was given between 1940 and 1960 to pregnant women to lower their chances of miscarriage).
6. Any exposure to radiation in the chest area
7. Menstrual history - if you have started your periods before that age of 12 or went through menopause early (before the age of 50).
8. Having no children or had a child after the age of 30
Six Risk Factors That You CAN change
So, you want to reduce your chance of getting breast cancer. Change those factors that you can by:
1. Lose weight
2. Exercise
3. When you have a child, breastfeed them.
4. Reduce or eliminate alcohol intake
5. Use methods of birth control that do not include any kind of hormones
6. Discus the risks vs. the benefits of hormone replacement therapy. There may be alternatives that do not involve any kind of hormones.
Breast Cancer Facts
Each year more than 186,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 25% of them will die from it.
Each year 1,800 men are diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 21% of them will die from it. So men, it is important that you examine your breasts also.
If detected early, 95% of breast cancer is curable.
Number One
The number one thing you can do to detect breast cancer early is to do monthly breast self-exams. This exam is done in the privacy of your own home and more importantly in today's economic environment is that it is FREE!
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