Breast Cancer		Breast Cancer Risk and Age   Does breast cancer only affect older women? No. Although it's true that the risk of breast cancer increases as we grow older, breast cancer can occur at any age. From birth to age 39, one woman in 231 will get breast cancer (<0.5% risk). From age 40-59, the chance is 1 in 25 (4% risk). From age 60–79, the chance is 1 in 15 (nearly 7%). Assuming you live to age 90, the chance of getting breast cancer over the course of an entire lifetime is 1 in 8; the overall lifetime risk is 12.5%. Questions Related to Breast Cancer Risk and Age If you have a risk factor for breast cancer, are you likely to get the disease? If breast cancer doesn't run in your family, are you assured of not getting it? Does only your mother’s family history of breast cancer affect your risk? Does using antiperspirants cause breast cancer? Is q monthly breast self-exam the best way to diagnose breast cancer? I’m at high risk for breast cancer. I've heard that there’s nothing I can do about it. Is this true? Is a breast cancer diagnosis an automatic death sentence? Does breastfeeding if you have a breast tumor increase your child’s risk of cancer? Does wearing an underwire bra cause breast cancer? Can mammograms cause cancer? Page 1 of 1    | 1 |

© 2004 healthsearches.org. All rights reserved.