Avril Harry, RN, BSc Oncology Nursing
Pink Hibiscus Breast Health Specialist
In our population there isn’t a person that can say they have not been affected by breast cancer.
We all know at least one person that has been diagnosed with breast cancer—be it a neighbour, friend, co-worker or sibling. Coupled with this knowledge there is an inherent fear of developing breast cancer. In my previous article we reviewed diet and lifestyle as a critical tool which aides in reducing one’s risk. Whilst we are not aware of the definitive cause of breast cancer, we know that there are factors which increase risk.
A risk factor refers to anything, be it an exposure or an attribute of an individual that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or affects your chance of getting a disease. Risk factors related to the development of breast cancer have been well researched over the years. While risk factors are established by conclusive research, they cannot be guaranteed.
As in some instances with breast cancer, there are no identifiable risk factors other than being a woman. This tells us that there’s much more to be discovered about breast cancer, its causes, and what we can do to reduce the risk.
In my ten years within the field of oncology nursing there hasn’t been a client who hasn’t asked that very important life changing question, “Am I at risk?”
Being a woman is the primary risk factor, but there are other factors that increases one’s risk of developing breast cancer. Known risk factors include the following:
• Being over 40
• Having a previous diagnosis of breast cancer
• Taking hormone replacement therapy
• Starting your period late
• Late menopause
• Not having children or delaying them until your thirties or forties
• The contraceptive pill causes a small increase in risk, but after you stop taking pill the risk gradually returns to normal
• Family history of breast cancer eg, if you have a mother, sister or aunt who had breast cancer, especially if they were first diagnosed before they were 40-50
It is estimated that 12-15 per cent of breast cancers diagnosed is in fact hereditary in nature and referred to as familial breast cancer. These are the people that may have an increased likelihood of developing breast cancer based on one’s family history or genetics. A family history records past and present cancers of your blood relatives (people related by birth, not marriage) over several generations. This increased risk may be because they have inherited an altered gene. Think Angelina Jolie.
Therefore, there is benefit in exploring one’s family history as this allows us to have a greater understanding of your individual level of risk for breast cancer compared to another woman of your age group. Genetic risk assessment is a multi-step process.
For people who may be known to have a family history of breast cancer, we remain optimistic that by knowing and understanding your individual risk, which can be assessed at Pink Hibiscus, it helps to facilitate generating a management plan. Your level of risk is determined by factors such as your age, your family’s medical history, and your genetic risk assessment analysis.