Am I at High Risk for Breast Cancer?

Complete the assessment below to find out if you are at a high risk for developing breast cancer. For a print-friendly format, please click on the downloadable Breast Cancer and You (PDF).

Family Risk Assessment

Consider your mother’s and father’s family history while reviewing this list of high-risk factors:

Personal History

• Do you have a personal history of breast cancer before age 40?
• Do you have a person history of ovarian cancer?

Family History

• Do you have a family history of breast cancer before age 50?
• Do you have a family history of ovarian cancer?
• Do you have a family history of male breast cancer?
• Do you have a family member who carries a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation?
• Are you of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry?

If any of the above applies to you, please call Presbyterian Cancer Center Genetics Program at (704) 384-5221 to schedule an appointment. The genetic counselor will review your family history, options for testing and the precautions that you and your family may need to take based on your family history and/or test results.

Other Factors

In addition to the risk factors listed above, the following are additional known factors that may increase your risk of developing breast cancer:

• Being female: women are more likely than men to develop breast cancer. One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime.
• Aging: women are more likely to develop breast cancer after age 60 than in their younger years.
• Obesity: women who are overweight or are obese are more likely to develop breast cancer.
• If you began your period at a younger age: if you began menstruating before age 12, this increases your risk.
• If you entered into menopause at an older age: if you began menopause after age 55, you may be at a higher risk for developing breast cancer.
• If you had your first child after age 35: women who have their first child later in life are at an increased risk.
• Radiation exposure: if you received chest radiation treatments as a child or adult you may be more likely to developing breast cancer later in life.
• Postmenopausal hormone therapy: women who use hormone therapy medications to treat symptoms of menopause are at a higher risk for breast cancer.
• Drinking alcohol: drinking more than one alcoholic beverage a day could increase your risk.

Discuss the list of factors above with your primary care physician if you have any concerns.