The best way to reduce fear of cancer is to increase your knowledge - we need accurate information to be able to ask the right questions, and the internet is an excellent way to spread this knowledge.

In New Zealand at present, 1 in 10 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.

The cause of breast cancer remains unknown.

The greastest risk is being FEMALE and growing OLDER ! (but males can get it too) - average age at onset is 64 years.

What are the chances of a woman getting breast cancer as she ages? (USA figures)

By age 30...1 out of 2,525

By age 40...1 out of 217

By age 50...1 out of 50

By age 60...1 out of 24

By age 70...1 out of 14

By age 80...1 out of 10

There is some association with unopposed oestrogens - the earlier you start and the later your periods cease, the greater the risk.
The younger you are with your first pregneancy the lesser the risk.
You are at higher risk if older than 25 when first pregnant, or even more so if you do not have any children at all - hence many single women and lesbians have a higher risk.

The oral contraceptive pill has a small increase in risk but this ceases when the pill is stopped.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is associated with detection rate of breast cancer after 5 years of use. Whether this is a true increase in incidence is not known. There have been over 51 studies performed over 25 years but there still are conflicting results.

The environment is important but we do not have enough evidence yet that definite links occur.

A family history gives you a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer, but a true genetic link is probably only present in 1 to 2 % of the population. Most people who get breast cancer do NOT have a strong family history, so you should still have screening even if no one in the family has had it!

Low Risk	One or More 1st degree relative (parent or sibling) get breast cancer at age 50 years or older - lifetime risk 1 in 12, to 1 in 8 = 95% of population.
Moderate Risk	One or more as above but age less than 50 - lifetime risk 1 in 8, to 1 in 4 = 5 % of population.
High Risk	3 or more relatives with breast or ovarian cancer on the same side of the family especially if bilateral or < 50 y.o. - lifetime risk - 1 in 4, to 1 in 2 = 1 to 2 % of population.
For these "genetic" risks can we do anything to reduce them? Gene Testing is possible, but expensive, and still a research tool (blood from a relative with cancer is compared with yours).

Other risk factors are:
High socio-economic group
Jewish decent
Previous benign proliferative breast biopsy
Diet of fatty foods or excessive alcohol
reduced with more fibre, fruit and vegetables

It is important if you have an increased risk that you have surveillance. This should include a clinical examination and ultrasound of the breasts.

Dr. Sonja Freese runs a Family History Clinic once a week.
To see her ring us on 09 625-1462.

Your risk factors only indicate a greater chance of getting breast cancer, in a similar way that your likelihood of developing heart disease increases with smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol (and now homocysteine!) and a positive family history. It doesn't mean you WILL get it, but you should give very careful attention to the only real weapon that we have - EARLY DETECTION, and removal when found. The chances of survival are dramatically better the earlier you find it, with most cancers less than 1cm in size having a total cure. Annual mammograms should start at the age of 40 years, although we do see some unfortuanate women in their 30's, or even 20's with breast cancer.