What Causes Breast Cancer?

Many of the risk factors for breast cancer are known and proven. Some of these risk factors are things you can change, such as eating healthily, taking part in regular physical activity, certain hormone treatments, and avoiding smoking or excessive drinking. Cancer starts when cells grow out of control, and they usually form a tumor which can typically be seen on a mammogram (an x-ray of the breast). This cell growth can start in one or both breasts.

One in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Can Breast Cancer be Prevented?

There is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, but there are things you can do to lower your risk. This can be especially helpful for people with certain genetic susceptibility to breast cancer or who have a prominent family history. Screening is also incredibly important, as it can catch any changes early on and can improve treatment outcomes.

What are the Screening Recommendations?

Breast cancer screening checks for cancer in people without symptoms.

Age 25-39 Years: Clinical breast exams every 6 to 12 months are often recommended starting around age 25.

Age 40-75 Years: For average-risk women, it is recommended to start annual mammograms at age 40, continuing until 75.

High-risk breast cancer screening requires earlier and more intensive surveillance than average-risk guidelines.

High-Risk Criteria:

You are typically considered at high-risk (a lifetime risk of 20% to 25% or greater) if you meet any of the following criteria:

• Known Genetic Mutations: You or a first-degree relative carries a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation.
• Calculated Lifetime Risk: A physician has used a risk assessment tool (like the Gail Model) to estimate your lifetime risk at 20% or greater.

Abnormal Screening Results?

An abnormal breast screening result usually means doctors found something that requires a closer look, it does not necessarily mean you have cancer. Most callbacks lead to a benign result or reveal a false positive. Your next step is typically additional imaging, such as a diagnostic mammogram or breast ultrasound to get a clearer view of the tissue.

Your doctor may recommend a simple follow-up, a breast ultrasound, or a minimally invasive biopsy to confirm a diagnosis. If a diagnostic mammogram reveals an abnormality, the radiologist will decide the next steps to treatment. Most findings are benign (non-cancerous), but depending on the findings, surgery or chemotherapy could be recommended.

Interested in More Information?

Resources:

American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer

National Cancer Institute: Breast Cancer

Contact our Program Coordinator:

Courtney Stamey

(704) 853-3003 office / (980) 336-7973 cell

breastcancerservices@kintegra.org