Invasive Breast Cancer Risk Factors

EVISTA is indicated for risk reduction of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Family history is an important risk factor for invasive breast cancer. However, only about 20% of women with invasive breast cancer have a family history of the disease; approximately 80% of invasive breast cancer cases occur sporadically. And even though it may seem like breast cancer is a younger woman's disease, about 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are age 50 or older.*

All women should consult with their healthcare professional about their risk for invasive breast cancer. Becoming aware of your personal risk for breast cancer is the first step toward awareness, early detection, and potential risk reduction.*

The following are widely accepted risk factors for invasive breast cancer*:

• Female gender
• Advancing age
• Family history of invasive breast cancer (mother, sister, or daughter)
• Previous breast biopsy (normal or abnormal)
• First live birth after age 30 (or never giving birth)
• First period before age 12
• Increased breast density

Let's take a closer look at a few of these risk factors:

Age
Although younger women may perceive themselves as having a higher risk for invasive breast cancer than older women, about 80% of invasive breast cancer cases occur in women past 50. As a woman ages, her risk for developing invasive breast cancer increases*:

• From ages 30 to 39, 1 out of 233 women is expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer
• From ages 40 to 49, 1 out of 69 women is expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer
• From ages 50 to 59, 1 out of 38 women is expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer
• From ages 60 to 69, 1 out of 27 women is expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer

Family History
Family history of invasive breast cancer (first-degree relative) is an important risk factor for developing breast cancer. For example, having one first-degree relative with breast cancer (mother, sister, or daughter) doubles your risk; and having two such relatives increases your risk of breast cancer by three times. However, about 80% of women with breast cancer have no family history.*

Lifestyle
Several lifestyle factors may increase your risk of breast cancer, such as*:

• Having no children, or having your first child after age 30
• Alcohol may increase your risk, increasing with the amount of alcohol consumed
• Obesity for women past menopause
• Physical inactivity throughout life; exercise may reduce invasive breast cancer risk

Personal Health History
Several factors in your personal health history may increase your risk of breast cancer*:

• Women who have undergone a previous breast biopsy
• Women with dense breast tissue as observed on mammograms
• Women with a personal history of non-cancerous changes in breast tissue
• Women who began menstruation at an early age (before age 12) or went through menopause at a late age (after age 55)

*According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 75% of breast cancer cases are invasive.