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There are a number of ailments that women are actually at risk for developing without actually realizing it. For example, breast cancer risk factors for women are much more significant than they come to realize in many situations. Of all the types of cancer that you can get, breast cancer happens to be the most common type of cancer that women experience. Breast cancer is second to lung cancer when it comes to the leading cause for deaths in women. Experts say that the fear of breast cancer is occasionally exaggerated and that this can prevent women from visiting their doctors in search of screening, and it may push some women into making irrational decisions regarding mastectomy when it may not be the right option to pursue. There are a lot of treatment options that are available for breast cancer, so having breast cancer isn't a death sentence, and there are options out there for the women that have it. It is urged for women to become educated about these issues and to keep their emotions in perspective. The breast cancer risk factors that can affect women according to the American Cancer Society can include:- Increasing in age,
- Genes, as nearly 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancer has been linked to mutations found in certain genes, such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are the most common examples,
- Family history of experiencing the disease,
- Personal history of experiencing the disease,
- Race, as white women seem to have a slightly larger risk of having breast cancer in comparison to women of African American descent, and yet African American women tend to have a higher chance of dying as a result of this disease,
- Earlier breast radiation,
- Earlier abnormal breast biopsy,
- Menstruation before the age of 12, or menopause after the age of 55 years,
- Not having had children,
- Using certain medications, including diethylstilbestrol (DES),
- Drinking too much alcohol,
- Consuming a poor diet,
- Long term obesity
The president for the American Cancer Society has recommended exercising, controlling your weight, giving up smoking, and most importantly, talking to your physician regarding your own personal level of risk and the appropriate screening options for breast cancer. It is also recommended that you keep these risk factors completely in perspective. You need to weigh your options and your risk factors, rather than assuming that you are immune to the problem or automatically likely to struggle with it. Talk to your doctor to find out what risk factors apply to you to determine whether or not you are actually at risk of developing this disease. 2011-10-02
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