Age greatly increases the risk of breast cancer.
There are a number of risk factors associated with breast cancer. Certain risk factors, such as being overweight or consuming alcohol, can be changed. Other breast cancer risk factors are inevitable or irreversible, however. One such example is age, which plays a significant role in a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.
The Facts
The risk of breast cancer increases with age. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 80 percent of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50. Many women with breast cancer tend to be over 60. Breast cancer also becomes harder to treat among older women. The American Cancer Society reports that two out of three breast cancer cases in woman over age 55 are invasive, compared to one in eight among women under age 40.
Other Age-Related Factors
The age a woman is when she reaches menstruation and menopause or has a baby can affect her risk of developing breast cancer. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, women who begin menstruating before age 12 and start menopause after 55 are at an increased risk. Having a baby before the age of 20 decreases the risk of breast cancer.
Considerations
Although age plays a prominent role in the development of breast cancer, it is important to keep in mind that a woman can be diagnosed at any age. There are young women who become diagnosed with breast cancer. Age is not the only risk factor of breast cancer. Women with a family history of breast cancer, especially if the cancer was diagnosed under the age of 40, are at an increased risk.
Prevention
Women who are older may be at a greater risk of other risk factors of breast cancer. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, obese women who have gone through menopause without using hormone therapy are more likely to experience breast cancer. Exercising for more than four hours per week and following a healthy diet can help decrease a woman's chances of developing breast cancer.
Detection
According to the American Cancer Society, women should begin having yearly mammograms at age 40. Women who have a family history of breast cancer are generally recommended to begin having mammograms in their early to mid-30s, however. In some cases, they may even begin in their late 20s. Early screening is especially important if the women in their family were diagnosed before they were 40 years old. Women in their 20s and 30s should have yearly clinical breast exams.
Tags: breast cancer, breast cancer, risk factors, with breast, with breast cancer, developing breast, developing breast cancer
