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Breast cancer risk
For women with an average risk
Chart based on National Cancer Institute (2020). SEER Cancer Statistics Review 1975–2017. http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2017/. Accessed July 31, 2020.
On average, about 13 out of 100 women will get breast cancer sometime during their lives. A woman's risk may be higher or lower depending on different factors. Getting older and being female are the two main risk factors linked to breast cancer. Other risks include having a family history of breast cancer, having breast changes or a breast disease that isn't cancer, being white, and drinking alcohol. Hormones such as estrogen may also play a part in some types of breast cancer.
For women who have BRCA1 gene changes
Chart based on Kuchenbaecker KB, et al. (2017). Risks of breast, ovarian, and contralateral breast cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. JAMA, 317(23): 2402–2416. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.7112. Accessed August 5, 2020.
Some women have BRCA1 gene changes. Their risk of getting breast cancer is higher than average. For these women, about 72 out of 100 of them will get breast cancer by age 80.
For women who have BRCA2 gene changes
Chart based on Kuchenbaecker KB, et al. (2017). Risks of breast, ovarian, and contralateral breast cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. JAMA, 317(23): 2402–2416. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.7112. Accessed August 5, 2020.
Some women have BRCA2 gene changes. Their risk of getting breast cancer is higher than average. For these women, about 69 out of 100 of them will get breast cancer by age 80.
Current as of: February 27, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
