Many women in London agonise over the questions; am I at risk of getting breast cancer, what are my chances of getting breast cancer? Professor Kefah Mokbel, Consultant Breast Surgeon at St George’s and The Princess Grace hospitals in London has written extensively about the topic.
Here he sets out the risks. This piece should be read in conjunction with How Can I Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer?
Age
The risk of developing breast cancer increases significantly with age; an average European woman aged 25 years has a 1 in 15000 chance of developing breast cancer; for a 50-year-old woman the chance is 1 in 50, and at the age of 80 years the chance is 1 in 11.
Family History
It is thought that up to 5% of all breast cancers are inherited due to the presence of abnormal genes passed on from mother to daughter. Having a first-degree relative (such as a sister or mother) with breast cancer will increase your chance of developing the disease.
A significant family history of prostate cancer is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Hormonal Risk Factors
- Starting Periods before the Age of 11 Years
- Later Pregnancy
- Later Menopause
- The Oral Contraceptive Pill
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- Obesity
- Diet
- Alcohol Consumption
- Smoking
- Environment
- Previous Benign Breast Biopsy
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Mammographic Density
