According to a new study on who is likely to develop breast cancer, lifestyle choices were seen as one of the most important factor in reducing the chances a person will develop the disease.
The study, published online May 26 in JAMA Oncology, looked at more than 40,000 women tested for 24 gene variants which were previously linked to increased risk of breast cancer.
The study looked at factors that could lower a person’s chances of developing breast cancer. As it stands now, a 30-year-old white woman has a 1 in 11 chance of developing the cancer at some point in her life.
Here’s a quick look at the study and its results.
What did the study look at?
The goal of this study was to use data to develop a model for predicting "absolute risk of invasive breast cancer." According to the report, results would “provide new insight into the challenges and opportunities for risk-based targeted ... cancer prevention efforts.”
Who was included?
The study used information from 17,171 cases and 19,862 controls sampled from the Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium, and surveys from 5,879 women participating in the 2010 National Health Interview Survey. The study did not include women diagnosed with having the BRCA1 and 2 genes, genes known to increase a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer.
What were the results?
The results were used to create a model for predicting absolute risk of breast cancer based on information about lifestyle and family history from individuals, and data on the risks of getting the disease.
According to the study, four lifestyle factors seem to increase the chance you could get breast cancer, with all other factors being even.
Maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol, and not taking hormone replacement therapy following menopause was shown to make a difference in the incidences of breast cancer for white American women.
Researchers said that if women followed those tips, approximately 30 percent of breast cancer cases could be avoided entirely. Of those who would still get the disease, most of the cases would be in women who have the a family history or a genetic mutation (BRCA1) that leaves them more likely to get breast cancer.
What about women with the BRCA1 gene? Will the lifestyle modifications help?
While those with the BRCA1 gene were not included in this study, researchers say lifestyle modifications have been seen to lower the chance of getting cancer even in women who have a high genetic risk for the disease.
What about non-white women?
The modifications were seen to benefit non-white women as well.
What should I do?
Some simple changes in your lifestyle – not smoking, watching your weight, not using hormone replacement therapy and limiting alcohol use – can make a real difference in your chances of getting breast cancer, according to the study.
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