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who is most vulnerable or likely to contract breast cancer? what ages and ethnicities are more vulnerable and who is most susceptible?

2007-10-09 19:27:25 · 5 answers · asked by lora 2 in Health Diseases & Conditions Cancer

5 answers

Family history has long been known to be a risk factor for breast cancer. Both maternal and paternal relatives are important. The risk is highest if the affected relative developed breast cancer at a young age, had cancer in both breasts, or if she is a close relative. First-degree relatives, (mother, sister, daughter) are most important in estimating risk. Several second-degree relatives (grandmother, aunt) with breast cancer may also increase risk. Breast cancer in a male increases the risk for all his close female relatives. Having relatives with both breast and ovarian cancer also increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

There is great interest in genes linked to breast cancer. About 5-10% of breast cancers are believed to be hereditary, as a result of mutations, or changes, in certain genes that are passed along in families.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are abnormal genes that, when inherited, markedly increase the risk of breast cancer to a lifetime risk estimated between 40 and 85%. Women with these abnormal genes also have an increased likelihood of developing ovarian cancer. Women who have the BRCA1 gene tend to develop breast cancer at an early age.


Testing for these genes is expensive and may not be covered by insurance.


The issues around testing are complicated, and women who are interested in testing should discuss this with their health-care providers.

White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African American women in the U.S.

2007-10-09 22:43:18 · answer #1 · answered by raindrops_ 2 · 0 0

The risk for any woman to develop breast cancer is significant, about 1 in 9 over a lifetime. About 5% to 10% of all breast cancers may be related to genes that are passed through families. Women who smoke are more likely than nonsmokers to develop breast cancer that is estrogen-receptor negative. Rigorous scientific studies have found no diet or other similar intervention to prevent breast cancer. There is no other proven method to effectively prevent this cancer.

At this time it is not possible to predict with absolute accuracy who will and who will not develop breast cancer.-

2007-10-09 19:54:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

No specific answer for your question can be given as there are many reasons for getting this Breast cancer. Some times without any reasons also this disease is affecting propel.

There are several well-recognized factors associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Role of some other factors are not so well established. Well-established risk factors for breast cancer include increasing age, family history of breast cancer, and exposure to female reproductive hormones. Factors that are not well established include, dietary factors, and environmental factors. Almost half of all women who develop breast cancer have no recognizable risk factors except advancing age.

Another approach is to divide risk factors for breast cancer in to two groups. The first group consists of risk factors over which the individual has no control, otherwise known as non-modifiable risk factors. This would include risk factors like increasing age, female gender, genetic factors, family history of breast cancer, personal history of breast cancer, and race. The other group consists of factors that can be modified by the person, so that the risk of development of breast cancer can be decreased. Modifiable risk factors for breast cancer include smoking, alcohol consumption, use of hormonal replacement therapy, decreased physical activity, obesity, increased intake of animal fat. -

Please see my blogs about Breast cancer at - http://360.yahoo.com/jayaramanms... -

2007-10-09 23:58:42 · answer #3 · answered by Jayaraman 7 · 0 0

White women in their 40 and 50's and people who have a family history.

2007-10-09 20:31:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

if it runs in your family you are more likely to get it (like mother to daughter or aunt to daughter) I think you are more likely to develop it a bit later in life like mid-thirties and on. I'm not sure which ethnicities are more susceptible.

2007-10-09 19:37:17 · answer #5 · answered by redkazoo 5 · 0 0

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