All. If you are a woman, you are at risk of getting breast cancer. One out of every 8 women will develop the disease. This is, of course, a frightening statistic, but you should understand that this is a cumulative statistic, covering a lifetime of over 70 years.
The statistics on risk of breast cancer at different ages vary greatly. For example, a woman in her late 30s has about a 1 in 257 chance of getting breast cancer, whereas a woman in her mid-50s has a 1 in 36 chance. The risk increases exponentially after age 30. Even in women 80 years old, the chance of developing cancer is roughly 1 in 24.
The most important thing to take away from these statistics is that, as you get older you need to become more and more vigilant about watching for the signs of breast cancer. Maintaining a healthy life style, monthly self breast exams, and annual mammograms and clinical breast exams become more critical with each passing year. |
