How to Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk

Over the course of your lifetime there are a number of risk factors you may be exposed to. Some cannot be changed, such as being a woman or having a strong family history, however other factors can be changed through healthy lifestyle decisions and risk-reducing strategies.

By better understanding your personal risk of breast cancer and getting regular screening, you can help improve your chance of better outcomes. You can use the iPrevent online tool to help better understand your breast cancer risk.

Clinical Trials Focused on Breast Cancer Prevention

A prevention-based breast cancer clinical trial is a research study designed to evaluate strategies, interventions, or treatments aimed at reducing the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly in individuals identified as having an increased risk. Breast Cancer Trials has conducted many clinical trials in the prevention setting including the BRCA-P clinical trial and IBIS-II clinical trial. Learn more about our successful trials and research. Donate to life-saving breast cancer clinical trials research.

The Importance of Breast Cancer Screening

The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chance of survival. Screening mammography can detect breast cancer at its earliest state, before it can be felt.

BreastScreen Australia recommends women aged 50-74 without breast cancer symptoms should have a screening mammograms every two years. This is the targeted age group as more than 75% of breast cancers occur in women aged over 50. Women aged 40-49 and 75 and over are eligible to receive free mammograms but do not receive an invitation to attend.

In New Zealand, women aged between 45 and 69 years are able to receive a free mammogram every two years.

Ways to Prevent Breast Cancer

Medical Interventions

There are several medical interventions available to help prevent breast cancer, particularly for individuals at higher risk due to genetic factors, family history, or other risk factors. These interventions include medications, surgeries, and other medical strategies based on an individual’s risk profile.

• Risk-reducing medications: Certain medications can help lower the risk of developing breast cancer, especially those that are hormone-receptor positive. These can include tamoxifen, anastrozole, and exemestane.

Surgical Options

For individuals with a very high risk (e.g., BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers), surgery can dramatically reduce the risk of breast cancer.

• Prophylactic (Preventive) Mastectomy: Involves the surgical removal of one or both breasts before cancer develops. Reduces breast cancer risk by up to 95% in high-risk individuals.

Removing Ovaries to Prevent Breast Cancer

A Prophylactic Oophorectomy is the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes to lower estrogen levels, reducing the risk of both breast and ovarian cancers. This is often recommended for women with genetic mutations like BRCA1/2, especially after childbearing.

Benefits of Oopherectomy:

• Reduced Cancer Risk: For premenopausal women, oophorectomy lowers estrogen levels, reducing the risk of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer by up to 50%. In relation to ovarian cancer, reduces the risk by up to 95% in high-risk individuals (e.g., BRCA mutation carriers).
• Improved Survival: Studies suggest that prophylactic oophorectomy can significantly increase life expectancy for women with genetic predispositions to breast or ovarian cancer.
• Simplicity of Proceedure: An oopherectomy is a relatively straightforward surgical procedure, often performed laparoscopically (minimally invasive), with a shorter recovery time than more extensive surgeries.
  
• Eliminated Future Ovarian Issues: Prevents benign (non-cancerous) ovarian conditions, such as ovarian cysts or endometriosis, which can require further treatment.

Risk Associated with Oopherectomy:

• Surgical Risks: This can include typical risks of surgery such as bleeding, infection, and adverse reactions to anesthesia. Rare complications associated with surgical proceedures can include damage to nearby organs like the bladder or intestines.
• Premature Menopause: Unfortinately for premenopausal women, oophorectomy causes immediate menopause. Symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. This may increase the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and cognitive decline due to the loss of estrogen.
• Impact on Fertility: Permanently ends the ability to conceive naturally, which can be a significant consideration for younger women.
  
• Potential Psychological Impacts: Loss of fertility and the sudden onset of menopause can lead to feelings of grief, anxiety, or depression. Some women may experience a reduced sense of femininity or sexual confidence.
  
• Residual Cancer Risk: Oophorectomy does not eliminate all cancer risk. There’s still a slight chance of developing primary peritoneal cancer (a rare cancer that arises in the lining of the abdomen, which shares origins with ovarian tissue).

Removing Breast Tissue to Prevent Breast Cancer

A prophylactic mastectomy is the surgical removal of one or both breasts in individuals who do not have breast cancer but are at high risk of developing it. This preventive procedure is intended to significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer, especially in those with genetic predispositions or other high-risk factors.

This procedure is typically recommended for individuals at high risk of breast cancer, including:

Genetic Risk:

• BRCA1/BRCA2 Mutations: Women with these mutations have up to a 72% lifetime risk of breast cancer.
• Other gene mutations like PALB2, TP53, and CHEK2.

Strong Family History:

• Multiple close relatives (e.g., mother, sister, or daughter) diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, especially at a young age.

Personal Medical History:

• Previous cancer in one breast (may opt for removal of the other breast to prevent future cancer).
• History of atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), which are precancerous conditions.

Dense Breast Tissue:

• Dense tissue can make cancer harder to detect with imaging and may slightly increase cancer risk.

The decision to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy is highly personal and depends on:

• Your genetic risk profile.
• Family and personal medical history.
• Emotional readiness for the physical and psychological impact.
• Long-term lifestyle and health goals.

Consult with a genetic counselor, oncologist, and plastic surgeon to fully understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives before making a decision. Other options, such as enhanced screening or chemoprevention, may also be worth exploring for risk management.

FAQs

Does Breastfeeding Prevent Breast Cancer?

Breastfeeding has been shown to lower the risk of breast cancer, particularly for hormone-receptor-positive types. The protective effect occurs for several reasons. First, breastfeeding lowers estrogen levels in the body during lactation. Since some types of breast cancer are fueled by estrogen, this reduced exposure to the hormone can help decrease the risk.

Additionally, breastfeeding causes the body to shed breast tissue, potentially removing cells with DNA damage that could otherwise develop into cancer. Breastfeeding also delays the return of menstruation, which reduces lifetime exposure to estrogen and progesterone, further lowering cancer risk. Moreover, the act of breastfeeding induces changes in breast cells that may make them more resistant to cancerous transformations.

The protective effect of breastfeeding increases with the duration of breastfeeding. Research suggests that breastfeeding for at least 12 months (across all children) may reduce breast cancer risk by 4–5% per year of breastfeeding. The longer the duration, the greater the benefit. Exclusive breastfeeding, where no formula feeding is involved, seems to enhance this protective effect even further.

Does Breast Massage Prevent Cancer?

Breast massage does not prevent breast cancer. While some people believe that regular breast massage can help with early detection by making it easier to feel lumps or changes in the breast tissue, there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that breast massage itself can prevent the development of cancer.

Breast cancer is a complex disease influenced by factors such as genetics, hormones, age, and lifestyle choices. While maintaining regular self-exams is an important part of breast health, it is the early detection of changes—such as lumps, thickening, or skin changes—that matters most for finding cancer at an early stage. However, breast massage is not a substitute for regular screenings, such as mammograms or clinical breast exams, which are proven to be more effective in detecting breast cancer.

Do Breast Implants Prevent Breast Cancer?

Breast implants do not prevent breast cancer. In fact, they do not offer any protective benefits against the development of breast cancer. While breast implants may change the appearance of the breasts, they do not affect the underlying risk factors associated with breast cancer, such as genetics, age, or lifestyle.

However, it is important to note that breast implants can make it more challenging to detect breast cancer through routine screening methods like mammograms. The implants can obscure breast tissue, potentially hiding tumors or making it more difficult for radiologists to interpret results accurately. Special imaging techniques, such as additional views during mammography or breast MRI, are sometimes used to help get clearer images for women with implants.

While breast implants themselves do not prevent cancer, they are not directly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer either. There are, however, certain rare conditions associated with breast implants, such as anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a type of cancer that can develop in the tissue surrounding the implant. This is not the same as breast cancer but is an important consideration for women with implants.

Does Breast Reduction Prevent Breast Cancer?

Breast reduction surgery does not prevent breast cancer, but it may reduce some of the risks associated with the disease. The procedure involves the removal of excess breast tissue to reduce breast size and alleviate discomfort, particularly for women with very large breasts. While this can improve physical and emotional well-being, it does not eliminate the risk factors for breast cancer, such as genetics, age, or lifestyle.

One indirect benefit of breast reduction is that it can make it easier for individuals to perform regular self-breast exams and undergo screenings like mammograms. With smaller breasts, there may be less tissue to examine, which could lead to a more accurate detection of any potential changes or lumps. However, breast reduction does not remove all of the breast tissue, so regular screenings and exams are still necessary.

There is also some evidence that breast reduction might slightly lower the risk of developing breast cancer by removing some of the breast tissue that could potentially develop into cancer. However, this effect is minimal, and breast cancer prevention still largely depends on factors like genetics, lifestyle choices, and routine screening practices.

How You Can Help

We want to ensure no more lives are cut short by breast cancer. Support our life changing research with a donation, or participate in a clinical trial to help us to find a cure.

What Are Dense Breasts & How Do I Know If I Have Them?

Do you know if your breasts are dense?

Dense breasts are more common in young woman and women with dense breasts can be five times more likely to develop breast cancer.

However, it is not something that is commonly discussed between doctor and patient.

Rik Thompson is the Associate Director and a Professor of Breast Cancer Research at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Science at Queensland’s University of Technology. He is also a Breast Cancer Trials Board Member.

A research focus for Professor Thompson is mammographic density or dense breasts.

What Is Mammographic Density?

“Mammographic density is the whiteness on your mammogram” said Professor Thompson.

“Without having a cancer in it, the normal breast mammogram can either be quite dark or will have different amounts of whiteness in it and it’s the whiteness which is the mammographic density.”

Professor Thompson said its not possible to know if you have dense breasts by feel or touch alone.

Research Into Mammographic Density (Dense Breasts)

Research into mammographic density is incredibly important as your risk of breast cancer is higher if you have dense breasts, but researchers are not yet sure why.

“It’s linked with oestrogen action which is known to be a promoter for breast cancer” said Professor Thompson.

“It’s got some genetic links. So, some of the genes which are linked to mammographic density are the same as those that have an effect on breast cancer predisposition and risk, but a lot of them are not.”

“We’re trying to find out at a molecular level why are the cells in those dense regions, or in denser breasts, are more likely to end up becoming a breast cancer.”

How Common Are Dense Breasts?

Around 45% of women have dense breasts according to Professor Thompson. However, as Australia does not have a notification process surrounding mammographic density, many woman are unaware of it.

“It’s something that’s being hotly debated and investigated and considered in Australia.”

“There’s quite a number of approaches and workshops and special initiatives to try and understand how best to deal with this information, how to accommodate it, how to afford it, how to pass it on in a meaningful way.”

What Do I Do If I Have Dense Breasts?

If women are concerned about mammographic density, they could take a look at their mammogram and discuss mammographic density with their GP said Professor Thompson.

“I think most women could look at the literature and look at the websites around mammographic density and have a look at their mammogram and they could get a pretty good picture as to whether they’re dense or not.”

“It’s certainly something that I think increasingly women could discuss with their GP.”

If you are aware of your mammographic density, Professor Thompson stresses that you should still get regular screening.

“I think the most important thing even if mammograms don’t work as well in dense breasts because it can mask it, mammography is still the best way to find breast cancers, even in the densest scenario.”

“Women shouldn’t ever think ‘I won’t get a mammogram anymore, it doesn’t help me, my breasts are too dense’. You can still find breast cancers and it’s very clear from all the professional groups that it’s paramount.”

He also said that having dense breasts is no cause for alarm.

“Mammographic Density is only one of a number of risk factors for breast cancer.”

“You could have the densest breasts in the world but if you had no other risk factors, you’re probably still fine.”

“So, you’ve got to look at your family history, you’ve got to look at your age, your BMI, and all of those factors that are well established and so, it’s really a composite assessment of risk that probably should be what’s used to think about what to do next.”

If you would like to learn more about mammographic density, you can visit www.informd.org.au

Why Are Breast Cancer Statistics & Survival Rates Important?

Collating breast cancer statistics is important in order to track how many people are being diagnosed with and surviving breast cancer each year. These statistics allows us to track how improved treatments and screening techniques have contributed to better survival rates.

It is also important to record how different factors can vary these statistics. For example: types of cancer, stage of cancer, age and gender.

This information allows doctors to better inform their patients of their individualised survival chances, which can also help to inform treatments.

New Cases of Breast Cancer

In 2019, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare predicts 19,371 women and 164 men in Australia will receive a breast cancer diagnosis. In New Zealand, approximately 3,500 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for Australian and New Zealand women.

The number of people diagnosed with breast cancer has steadily increased over time, however survival rates have improved. In the past 20 years, the five-year relative survival rate for early stage breast cancer has increased from 73% to 91% in Australia. In New Zealand, the chance of surviving five years is 88%. The chance of surviving at least ten years in Australia is 83%, while in New Zealand it is 80-95%, if detected early via a mammogram.

Survival Statistics By Stage of Diagnosis

The relative five-year survival rate for a female diagnosed with breast cancer in its earliest stage or stage one is effectively 100%, according to 2011 data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. When females are diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (advanced or stage four), the 5-year survival rate is reduced to 32%1. This highlights the important of detecting cancer at an earlier stage to improve survival chances.

On average, breast cancer in females is diagnosed at stage one or two. The higher proportion of cases diagnosed as stage one and two for breast cancer may be partly attributable to the national breast cancer screening program.

Breast Cancer Mortality Rates

In 2019, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates 3,090 people will die from breast cancer. It is the 4th leading cause of death from cancer in Australia. The risk of dying from breast cancer before age 75 is 1 in 78 for women, and 1 in 7,922 in males. The risk of dying from breast cancer before age 85 is 1 in 43 for women and 1 in 3,455 for males.

In New Zealand, approximately 630 people will die from breast cancer this year. About 70% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 80% of women who die from it are 50 years or older.

The Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

It can be an incredibly frightening experience to find a lump on your breast that you have never noticed before. It is the most discussed symptom of breast cancer.

But do you know what you should do after finding a lump? Do you know what other symptoms you should be on the lookout for? Does a lump necessarily mean you have breast cancer? And is a monthly self-check of our breasts really necessary?

What Do You Do When You Find A Breast Abnormality?

Breast Cancer Trials board member and Medical Oncologist Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken said some breast cancers show no symptoms to begin with, but it’s important not to panic if you do find a breast abnormality.

“I think the first thing to say about symptoms of breast cancer is often there are very few or there aren’t any” said Associate Professor Wilken.

“Second thing to say is that breast cancer is not an emergency. If you think there is something abnormal about your breasts, you don’t want to sit around watching that for six to 12 months, but nor do you have to panic and see the doctor in a week or two time. You can afford to wait three or four weeks and see is this really different? Is this really new? Is this really something happening?”

“In terms of what you might see, if you’re looking at yourself in the mirror with your hands on your head, you may see that there is some asymmetry, or some part of the breast pulled in. When I say asymmetry, it is quite common for one breast to be slightly bigger than the other, so I don’t mean that, but I mean some unevenness” he said.

“The second thing to look for is the nipples and in some women their nipples are already always withdrawn and, on both sides, and that’s fine, that’s totally ok. But if a nipple that used to be pointing out is now tugging in that’s probably not right. Again, wait for three or four weeks but that’s something to talk to the doctor about.”

“And the third thing is rash or red raised plaques on the skin is highly likely to be something completely benign. It’s just an allergy or something like that, but if that persists for three or four weeks that’s worth talking to the doctor about as well.”

Non-Visible Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

Professor Wilcken said there are also non-visible symptoms which women should be aware of.

“You naturally assume ‘if I’ve got cancer in my breast it’s going to hurt’. So, I’ll watch out for breast pain but in fact, breast cancers very uncommonly hurt and if you’ve got something causing breast pain, I’m not saying ignore it, wait and see and if it persists, see the doctor. But it’s probably going to turn out not to be breast cancer.”

He said if you have any of those symptoms, you should not panic.

“As I say, it’s something to take seriously, it’s potentially important but it’s not urgent. It’s always a good idea to wait three or four weeks. I think particularity if you’re a pre-menopausal woman and you’re having regular periods as you all know, breasts change through the cycle.”

“It’s better to wait for a month and see if whatever you think was wrong or you were starting to panic about, might just settle down on its own.”

Should You Self-Check?

Woman are often encouraged to self-check regularly, however Associate Professor Wilcken said this is a complicated discussion.

“The whole self-checking argument is complicated.”

“On the one hand you want to know what your breasts feel like if you’re having a menstrual cycle and you want to know how they change for the cycle, so you can recognise if something feels abnormal.”

“But in fact, interestingly, if you very carefully train women to examine their breast for abnormalities, what’s been shown in a clinical trial is that that actually doesn’t help. Because you get lots of women talking to lots of doctors, having lots of mammograms, and lots of biopsies and almost all of it is not breast cancer. So, you actually create more problems than you solve” he said.

“So, it’s this halfway thing of don’t completely ignore your breasts but don’t do a religious really careful examination. It’s a kind of once over, three times or four times a year.”

“If you see something different, you note it, you wait and you watch and if two or three weeks later it’s still the same, you see the doctor for a check-up.”

Cancer Cases Increasing Worldwide

In Australia and New Zealand, the number of people of people being diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing.

In fact, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that this year, breast cancer will be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, taking over from Prostate Cancer.

This means more than 19 thousand people in Australia and three and a half thousand people in New Zealand will receive a breast cancer diagnosis this year.

However, the breast cancer mortality rate is in decline, which means less people are dying from this disease.

To help make sense of this data, we sat down with Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken, a Medical Oncologist and Breast Cancer Trials Board Member.

Why are Breast Cancer Cases Increasing in Australia and New Zealand?

We asked him if we know why the number of women and men being diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing.

“As a sort of a short cut, breast cancer is in some ways a disease of affluence.”

“Not meaning that poor women don’t get breast cancer but meaning, when you compare rich parts of a country with poor parts of a country or rich countries versus poor countries, or poor countries that are getting richer, like China, what you find is as you become more affluent you get more breast cancer. And that’s thought to be due to a number of factors” he said.

“Some of them are kind of reproductive factors. So, as you live as we do, in a better nourished world, so we’re not starving, we’re not losing weight – that sort of stuff, what you actually find is the age at which women first start getting their periods gets lower. So, in Australia the average is 12. If you go to a poor rural part of China, it’s more like 17 or 18 and that has an impact. That does slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. Similarly, menopause might be a bit later and that slightly increases the risk and then also our pattern of childbearing changes.”

“So, in more impoverished countries women tend to get pregnant very early and that makes breast cancer less likely. I’m not obviously suggesting getting pregnant very early is a good idea but what happens, say as a country becomes more westernised is that women have children later and later for obvious, good reasons, but that does slightly increase your risk of breast cancer. If you’re in a poor country, you will do a lot of breast feeding and you’ll be breast feeding the child for two or three years and that’s protective. Whereas we tend not to do that in Australia.”

Associate Professor Wilcken noted that the ageing population has impacted this number as well, but only slightly.

“Obviously if you don’t die of pneumonia when you’re a kid or a heart attack when you’re middle aged and you’re going to live for longer, you’ve got a bigger chance of getting breast cancer. But I think the main drivers are those hormonal factors to do with periods, childbirth, and being over-nourished.”

Breast Cancer Mortality Is Decreasing

Though we have seen an increase in the number of women being diagnosed, we have also seen a significant decrease in the mortality rate of women being diagnosed with breast cancer.

“The number of deaths has decreased massively” said Associate Professor Wilcken

“Over the last 25 years the mortality rate, you know correct at per capita, has fallen by about 25% and most of that is actually due to clinical trials showing that giving treatments, drug treatments, after breast surgery reduces the risk of the cancer coming back. So, it’s mostly to do with drug treatments and we’ve only known about that because of clinical trials.”

“There’s also probably a component of screening. So, the more screening you have the more likely you are to find cancers a bit earlier and some of those you’ll find early enough that you’ve cured the woman, that you’d otherwise wouldn’t have.”

“The number will continue to decline, although I think we’ve seen the biggest decline since 1990 when these treatments started being used regularly” said Associate Professor Wilcken.

“We’ve had a big fall from say 1990 to 2015, and we’ll continue to have falls, but it’ll be at a slower rate. In other words, we’ve done a lot of the heavy lifting, there’s obviously more to do and that will be slow incremental benefits.”

He said although the mortality rates are important, it’s also worth remember the quality of life improvements that have also been made thanks to clinical trials research.

“The experience of getting breast cancer is obviously very challenging but it’s gradually getting much easier to manage than it was say 20 years ago. For a whole bunch of reasons. The drugs are smarter, the anti-nausea medications are better, the pain medications are better and so on.”

How Common Is Breast Cancer?

In 2019, it is estimated that breast cancer will become the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. It is estimated 19,371 women and 164 men in Australia and approximately 3,504 people in New Zealand will be diagnosed with cancer in 2019.

In Australia, breast cancer is the second most common cancer to cause death in women after lung cancer. The risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer by age 85, is 1 in 7 for women and 1 in 675 for men.

Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, impacting 2.1 million women each year, and is responsible for the greatest number of cancer-related deaths among women.

Last year, it is estimated that 627,000 women worldwide died from breast cancer. This is approximately 15% of all cancer deaths in women.

What Is The Most Common Type Of Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is not just one disease, but several. It includes different subtypes, which include ER positive, HER2 positive and triple negative. Treatments are also becoming increasing personalised for patients.

The most common type of breast cancer is both oestrogen receptor (ER) positive and HER2-negative. Approximately 75% of all breast cancers are ER positive. In this type of cancer, oestrogen receptors cause cell growth, and treatment may include hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

Another important subtype is triple negative breast cancer. Around 15% of breast cancers are triple negative, which means that hormone therapy and HER2 blocking therapy are not effective. Chemotherapy is often used for this type of breast cancer.

Around 15% of breast cancers are HER2 positive. HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.

HER2 is a protein created by the HER2 gene. HER2 proteins are receptors on breast cells, and are involved in normal cell growth, however sometimes the HER2 protein doesn’t work properly and cells multiply too quickly. This can cause a fast-growing breast cancer.

If too much HER2 is present in your breast cancer cells, then you have HER2 positive breast cancer. The presence of the HER2 protein causes cancer to spread more quickly to other parts of the body.

Thanks to Breast Cancer Trials, treatments for HER2 positive breast cancer have improved substantially over the last 40 years. It was thanks to the HERA clinical trial that those with HER2 positive breast cancer now have access to Herceptin, which was proven to improve survival rates when used with chemotherapy.

What Are The Most Common Symptoms Of Breast Cancer?

In the early stages of breast cancer there may be no symptoms at all. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

• A new lump in the breast, armpit area or around the collarbone
• A change in breast size or shape
• Changes to the nipple, such are sores or crusting, an ulcer or inverted nipple
• Clear or bloody nipple discharge
• Changes to the skin including redness, puckering, or dimpling (an ‘orange peel’ appearance)
• Breast tenderness or pain

It is important to know that these symptoms may not be related to cancer at all, and that there are many other causes. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor.

How Common Is Breast Cancer In Both Breasts?

Synchronous bilateral breast cancer, or breast cancer in both breasts at the same time, is uncommon.

Breast cancer data shows that an average of 2.3% of women with invasive breast cancer in one breast also had cancer in the second breast diagnosed at the same time, or within at least three months of the first diagnosis. As you get older, the likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer in both breast increases.

However, five-year survival for patients with breast cancer in both breasts is not significantly different from patients with breast cancer in only one breast. Women who have been diagnosed with cancer in one breast are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer in the other breast at a later date. Cancer specialists will usually keep a close eye out for this.

How Common Is Breast Cancer In Your 20s?

Less than 1% of breast cancers occur in people in their 20s.

The latest data we have from the Australia Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is from 2015. It shows that 17,004 people were diagnosed with breast cancer. From this 80 people were between the ages of 20-29.

There were 3 breast cancer diagnoses in people under the age of 20.

Although breast cancer can occur in your 20s, it has been shown that it is not useful for the average woman under 40 to have regular mammograms. If you have a strong family history or are concerned about your chances of developing breast cancer, speak with you GP about your screening options.

How Common Is Breast Cancer In Your 30s?

The probability of developing breast cancer in your 30s is higher than in your 20s, but is still uncommon.

According to AIWH data from 2015 , 721 people aged between 30-39 were diagnosed with breast cancer, which equates to 4% of the 17,004 people diagnosed that year.

Rates for breast cancer in younger women are lower, as your risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer increases with age.

What Is The Most Common Benign Breast Tumour?

Benign breast tumours are not cancerous and are very common.

A woman’s breasts go through many changes due to puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Most breast changes are likely to be normal or due to a benign breast condition. Some benign breast tumours may need treatment, but this is not always the case. If you notice a change in your breasts, you should discuss this with your GP.

There are several benign (not cancerous) breast conditions including; breast pain, breast cysts, duct ectasia, fibroadenoma, periductal mastitis, benign phyllodes tumour, breast calcifications, fat necrosis, intraductal papilloma, gynaecomastia, hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia, lobular neoplasia, Mondor’s disease, sclerosing lesions of the breast and intertrigo.

How Common Are Breast Biopsies?

A breast biopsy involves the use of a needle to take a sample of a small amount of tissue to be examined under a microscope. It is done to investigate suspicious changes in the breast, that are causing symptoms or are found on routine scans.

It is very common as it is part of the ‘triple test’ to diagnose breast cancer: a physical examination, mammogram or ultrasound and then biopsy. Although other tests can point to cancer being present, only a biopsy can make a definite diagnosis.

Just because a biopsy is being done, it does not mean that there is cancer present. A breast biopsy can also show that there is no evidence of cancer present in the breast. Alternative diagnoses include the benign conditions listed above.

Types of breast biopsies include fine needle aspiration biopsy, core needle biopsy and surgical biopsy.

How Common Are Breast Calcifications?

Breast calcifications are common and are usually non-cancerous and harmless. They are small spots of calcium deposits in the breast. They are usually found during routine mammograms.

There are two kinds of breast calcifications: macrocalcifications and macrocalcifications. Macrocalcifications are not linked with cancer and require no treatment. Microcalcifications are not usually due to cancer, but a group of microcalcification can sometimes be a sign of pre-cancerous changes or early breast cancer. Microcalcifications may require further investigation and treatment.

What Is The Most Common Treatment For Breast Cancer?

The type of treatment that is used for breast cancer is dependent on several factors including the type of breast cancer, stage of breast cancer, the patients age and general health, genomic markers, where the breast cancer is in the body and the patient’s preference.

Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer. The smaller the tumour, the more options the patient has.

The most common types of surgery for breast cancer are lumpectomy, which can also be known as partial mastectomy or breast conserving surgery, and mastectomy. Often one or more lymph glands from the armpit will also be removed at the same time as the breast surgery, in a sentinel node biopsy or axillary dissection.

Other treatments for breast cancer include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy.

Is Breast Cancer In The Left Breast More Common?

Breast cancer in the left breast is not more common than breast cancer in the right breast, however some treatments may differ due to the proximity of the heart on the left side the body.

How Common Is Breast Cancer In Men?

164 men in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, representing less than 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses.

Breast cancer in men is less common, but the symptoms and most of the treatment is the same. Men should be aware of the look and feel of their breasts and alert their doctor of any changes.

The Importance Of Language

UK Charity Macmillan Cancer Support conducted a poll of 2,000 people who have or had cancer, asking for their thoughts on the language used to describe their cancer experience.

‘Fighter’, ‘warrior’, ‘hero’ and other words relating back to ‘war’ or ‘battles’ were a selection of words seen as inappropriate rather than uplifting. The poll’s respondents said they preferred factual words to describe people with cancer, their diagnosis, and when someone with the illness dies.

After opening this conversation on Breast Cancer Trials social media, we heard similar responses discussing distaste for words like ‘journey’. However, others disagreed showing how divisive this language can be.

Here are some of the comments that people made on social media:

“I feel that in my experience using this language is a barrier to really discussing how a person with cancer is really feeling and fearing. I have had attempts at conversation with loved ones basically shut down when all I needed was someone to listen to me not say ‘be strong and you’ll be fine.’ We all have different experience with this.”

The Breast Cancer Trials Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) regularly discusses the language used in patient information for breast cancer treatment and care, to help ensure a consumer perspective is provided from the very early planning stages of clinical trials.

Current CAP Chair, Leslie Gilham said although people are often well intentioned, sometimes language can negatively affect a woman going through treatment.

“It’s a bit like when you’re pregnant. Everyone knows someone who’s had cancer, and everyone wants to tell you what happened to their friend, or their family member and that sort of thing. So, it’s about surrounding yourself with the right people and, that peer support, because they get where you are, and they get where you’re going. So, it makes it easier to deal with it.”