11 High Risk Groups for Breast Cancer — Which One Are You In?

High risk groups for breast cancer.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017, 16:14

If you are a woman, you need to read this.

Breast cancer is one of the deadliest cancers that affect women around the world. And sometimes even after getting an early diagnosis, there is no guarantee that you will survive it.

So if you are a woman, you need to read this article. Because in this piece we are going to discuss the various risk factors for breast cancer and how you can reduce your risk if you fall in one or more of these high-risk groups.

Please note: Not falling in any of the following high-risk groups does not mean that you are not at risk of developing breast cancer. So to know more, we recommend you read the following article as well to stay on high alert (especially if you are 30 years or older).

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High Risk Group #1: Genetic Mutations

Scientists have identified many genes whose mutations lead to breast cancer. But the most important ones on the list are the BRCA1 and BRCA 2 genes.

Why? Because 45 - 65% women who have this genetic mutation are known to develop breast cancer.

And though genetic mutations and family history of breast cancer account for only 13% of all cases diagnosed, it is still a significant risk factor for those women who have multiple breast cancer sufferers in their family or have a mother, sister, or first cousin who were diagnosed with it quite early in life.

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High Risk Group #2: 50+ Age Group

Less than 5% women under the age of 50 are affected by breast cancer in the U.S. But the risk substantially increases once you hit the golden jubilee of your life.

In fact, studies have shown that the risk of developing breast cancer is the highest in women who are 70+ in age.

And while black women do tend to get diagnosed earlier than whites, the risk margin is still above 50 years of age.

High Risk Group #3: Late or No Pregnancy

Women who have a child after 30 years of age are at a 40% greater risk of developing breast cancer as compared to those women who deliver a child by the age of 20 - 25.

This is because genetic mutations become more common as you age, and any mutation in your breast will multiply and grow when your breasts grow during pregnancy.

That's the main reason why women are at a very high risk of developing breast cancer immediately after they have delivered a child (if they are 30+ or older). And also why this risk falls as the years go by without any incident.

High Risk Group #4: Early Menarche or Late Menopause

Long-term exposure to estrogen and progesterone increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Maybe that's why women who get their first period (a.k.a menarche) before the age of 12 and those who get their menopause after the age of 55 are known to have a high risk of developing breast cancer.

High Risk Group #5: Those Who Are Undergoing Combination Hormone Replacement Therapy

Women going through menopause often undergo hormone-replacement therapy to restore the level of female sex hormones in their body, thus reducing the intense problems that accompany menopause.

Unfortunately, studies have shown that those who undergo combination hormone therapy with estrogen and progestin are at a significantly high risk of developing breast cancer if they continue taking the treatment for more than 5 years.

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High Risk Group #6: Using Oral Contraceptive Pills

While oral contraceptive pills are known to reduce the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer, they also have their unique set of side effects.

One such side effect is the increased risk of developing breast cancer.

So if you are taking oral contraceptive pills at the moment, or used to take them until recently, we recommend that you speak to your gynecologist to know which pills are safe to take and which ones increase your breast cancer risk.

High Risk Group #7: Having Dense Breasts

The density of your breasts is a factor observable only under a mammogram. This is because on the outside all breasts feel alike.

It's only when you scan them that it is revealed whether they are mostly made of fat tissue (breast lobules and glands) or mostly made of connective tissue (the supporting tissues that hold everything together).

And if your breasts have more of the latter, then it is a problem because the dense structures prevent lumps or tumors from showing up on the scan.

High Risk Group #8: Benign Breast Tumors and Conditions

Benign breast conditions are divided into two types - proliferative and non-proliferative. And while non-proliferative conditions (like breast cysts) do not have much risk of turning into breast cancer, the proliferative ones have a very high risk of doing so.

So if you have been diagnosed with a proliferative benign breast condition, please make sure you get your breasts examined once every 6 - 12 months to detect cancerous transformation early on.

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High Risk Group #9: Having LCIS

LCIS, or Lobular Carcinoma in Situ, is the most dangerous benign breast condition of them all, which develops because of abnormal proliferation of cells within breast lobules (mostly after menopause).

This growth is known to somehow remain static within the breast lobule for long periods of time until one day it breaks out, invades the surrounding structures, and thus, gives rise to lobular or ductal breast cancer.

In fact, the risk of developing breast cancer in those suffering from LCIS is so high (almost 8 - 10 times higher than other risk factors) that most breast cancer forums have a separate section for this condition to help these women combat the fear of developing breast cancer for the rest of their lives.

High Risk Factor #10: High Blood Androgen Levels

Androgens, like testosterone, are produced in both men and women to maintain reproductive and general health.

And though women produce only a fraction of these hormones as compared to men, post-menopausal studies have observed that women who have large amounts of androgens circulating in their bodies are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

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High Risk Group #11: Obesity After Menopause

The fats in our body have the ability to produce an enzyme called aromatase that can convert androgens to estrogen. That's why post-menopausal women who have large reserves of fats in their body (a.k.a obese women) are known to have a higher risk of developing breast cancer as their bodies endogenously produce more estrogen as compared to women who are not overweight.

What Should You Do Now?

If you fall in any of these high-risk groups for breast cancer, we recommend you do the following to detect any growing tumors early on in life.

1. Get a clinical breast exam done once every 6 - 12 months.

2. Get mammograms done once every year after the age of 30.

3. Get breast cancer screening done if you have a family history of breast cancer as this will detect genetic mutations even before they lead to breast cancer.