What Are My Chances of Getting Breast Cancer
Every woman dreads that message from her doctor telling her she has breast cancer. Why? Because so many women get this dreaded disease. It is even more feared among women than heart disease. So what is the liklihood that you will get breast cancer? According to this site, oncolink, you have a 1 in 8 lifetime chance of getting this disease.
One of the biggest risks for getting breast cancer is age. Our risk goes up each year. The more time a woman is exposed to the female hormone estrogen also has an impact on breast cancer risk. If you started your period young, experts believe you may have a hgiher liklihood of cancer. That also means that Hormone Replacement Therapy can have the same effect.
Genetics are another fact of life for cancer. There is a mutated gene passed down in some families that increases risk. But surprisingly, most women who get breast cancer do not have the defective gene.
What can you do to beat the odds? Limit alcohol use. Eat healthy. De-stress your life and get some exercise. Try to find some level of balance. And most of all, remember to do your self exams each month and see your doctor at least once per year.
