Breast cancer can affect both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare. There are several known risk factors, and research is underway to confirm several suspected risk factors, such as obesity, exposure to pesticides and dense breasts.
The Facts
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed (non-skin) cancer among women, and the second leading cause of cancer death among women.
Features
Dense breasts have less fat and more glandular and connective tissue, which can make tumors hard to locate during a mammogram.
Risk Factors
Known risk factors for breast cancer include a high-fat diet, early onset of menstruation, late onset of menopause, and having a first child after age 40 or never having children. The American Cancer Society estimates that only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases occur in women who are genetically predisposed to the disease.
Research
Studies published in the September 6, 2006, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute identified breast density as an important risk factor for developing breast cancer.
Considerations
The National Cancer Institute recommends that women with dense breasts have digital mammograms instead of film mammograms, because the film is difficult to interpret when breasts are dense.
Tags: breast cancer, American Cancer, American Cancer Society, among women, breasts have, Cancer Institute, Cancer Society
