.jpg?width=670&name=Untitled%20design%20(29).jpg "Beyond Genetics: 4 Common Lifestyle Factors Linked to Breast Cancer")
Genetic factors are the single largest contributor to breast cancer risk. However, genetic variations are not the only cause of breast cancer. There are a wide variety of factors that could contribute to your risk of developing breast cancer.
In this article, Beverly Fischer, MD - The Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery will take a look at the 4 most common lifestyle factors that have been associated with increased breast cancer risk.
Learn more about these factors, and improve your level of breast cancer awareness!
Smoking
Smoking is associated with an increase the risk of dozens of different types of cancer. Smoking can contribute to lung cancer, oral cancer, a variety of brain cancers, and breast cancer.
It’s estimated that women who smoke have a 24-45% higher chance of developing breast cancer. The good news is that smoking cessation can dramatically reduce this number. After 10 years of smoking cessation, your risk of developing cancer drops to pre-smoking levels.
Consumption of Alcohol
Excessive consumption of alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer by damaging DNA cells and increasing levels of estrogen and other hormones.
Compared to non-drinkers, women who have 3 alcoholic beverages each week have a 15% higher chance of developing breast cancer – and experts have estimated this risk increased by another 10% for each additional drink consumed each day.
Being Overweight/Obese
Being overweight or obese is a known factor that can contribute to breast cancer risk. Being overweight or obese in adulthood or after menopause is known to increase your risk of breast cancer.
Women over 50 with a BMI of between 18.5-24.9 develop breast cancer at a rate of 7/100, while women with a BMI of 30 or higher develop breast cancer at a rate of 12/100. This means that being obese leads to a 71% higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Birth Control (The Pill)
The combined contraceptive pill is known to slightly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. However, this risk disappears after 10 years of discontinuing the use of the pill.
This risk is quite low for women under 40, and in the past 30 years, lower levels of estrogen have been used to create the combined contraceptive pill – so the risks are lower now than they have been in the past.
Still, you should consult your doctor before taking (or discontinuing) the use of the pill. Discuss your family risk of breast cancer and other topics to ensure you make a smart, informed choice.
Stay Informed – And Reduce Your Risks!
At The Beverly Fischer, MD Advanced Center For Plastic Surgery, we’re dedicated to keeping women informed about common women’s health issues, and providing them with the tools they need to be happy, self-confident, and informed.
We offer a wide variety of services, and we specialize in helping women who have suffered from cancer, recover. We offer expert breast implant procedures that can be used to restore your natural bust after a mastectomy.
Need more choices? We have more about breast augmentations!
With our decades of surgical expertise, you can trust us to keep you safe throughout the whole procedure. We focus on creating a natural, feminine bust that makes you feel self-confident.
So if you or a loved one has undergone breast cancer treatment including a mastectomy, contact us today to learn about our restorative plastic surgery services. We’d be happy to discuss how we can help you, and talk about our unique approach to plastic surgery.