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A risk factor is anything that increases the possibility of getting a disease. Different cancers have different risk factors.
For example, we know that exposing skin to strong sunlight is a risk factor for developing skin cancer and that smoking is a risk factor for cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx, bladder, kidney, and several other organs.
Having one or more risk factors does not mean that a woman will definitely develop breast cancer, but it might increase her chance of developing breast cancer. Some women with one or more risk factors might never develop breast cancer.
Some risk factors like gender, age or race, cannot be changed. Some of the risk factors influence the likelihood of developing breast cancer more than other risk factors. The risk of developing breast cancer can change over time.
The main risk factors for developing breast cancer appear to be:
This post was edited by Ness at April 17, 2011 9:44:32 AM WATime"
The Click Project Coordinator 
Daughter-in-law and niece of breast cancer "thrivers"!
The Benefits of Weight Control
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that keeping your weight within normal limits has a positive impact on recurrence rates and mortality risk for women with breast cancer.
Researchers at Oxford University looked at levels of cancer- triggering hormones, including oestrogen and testosterone, in 6,300 postmenopausal women. The study has shown that obese women had oestrogen levels 50% higher than those within the normal weight range. The study found that obesity had a much greater effect on these hormone levels than alcohol consumption or smoking. Alcohol consumption increased some cancer triggering hormones by 18% but had no impact on oestrogen and smoking raised some hormone levels slightly.
The Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study looked at the diet of 2,400 postmenopausal women who had been treated for early stage breast cancer. The study found that women who ate a low-fat diet had a 24% reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence than women who ate a standard diet. Recurrence rates were 9.8% of women who maintained a low fat diet and 12.4% of those on a standard diet.
A 2005 study looking at weight prior to diagnosis and weight gain after a breast cancer diagnosis showed an increased body mass index prior to diagnosis was associated with a higher risk of recurrence and mortality from breast cancer. Those who gained weight after diagnosis had increased risk of breast cancer recurrence during the follow up nine years than those women who maintained their weight. These associations were stronger for premenopausal women than for postmenopausal.
All of these studies suggest that women affected by breast cancer should try to address any issues with excess weight by following a low fat diet and doing moderate exercise to not only reduce body mass index but to gain other benefits of exercising such as improvement in mood and reducing side effects of treatment such as fatigue and nausea.
By Heather Marindale
McGrath Breast Care Nurse
Adapted from Breast Cancer Care "Spirit - September 2011" available at:
http://www.breastcancer.org.au/sites/breastcancerorgau/assets/public/File/Newsletters/Spirit%20August%202011%20web.pdf
This post was edited by Ness at September 13, 2011 12:00:41 AM WATime"
Daughter of breast cancer survivor Iris
