Resources available to assess your risk for Breast Diseases or Cancer

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	October 2008 - Breast Cancer Awareness Month What is the meaning of the Pink Ribbon

Physical traits, biological aspects or attributes that increases the chance of developing a disease can be called a risk factor. Risk factors for breast cancer include the following:

age
age at the start of menstruation
age at first live birth
number of first-degree relatives (mother, sisters, daughters) with breast cancer
number of previous breast biopsies (whether positive or negative)
at least one breast biopsy with atypical hyperplasia
age at menopause
dense breast tissue on a mammogram
use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
a high-fat diet
drinking alcohol
low physical activity
obesity
environmental exposures
breast cancer may also be caused by inherited gene mutations (for example: mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene

There are Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tools. Most of these tools are simple questionnaires, whereas, some may be mathematical models.

It should be noted that...

Several of these models have been tested on women from a predominant race or ethnicity (for example: American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian, and Pacific Islander women) and the findings may not be entirely accurate for candidates from another race.
Some Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tools are designed for use by qualified breast medical professionals.

Hence, you are encouraged to discuss the results and your personal risk of breast cancer with a qualified breast professional.

Common Presentations

Benign Breast Diseases

Nipple Discharge

Breast Pain

Breast lumps

Fibroadenoma

Cysts

Abscesses

Fibrocystic breast disease

Atypical hyperplasia

Intra-ductal pappillomas