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  • Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Risk and Prevention

There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there are things you can do that might lower your risk, such as changing risk factors that are under your control. 

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease, such as cancer. But having a risk factor, or even many, does not mean that you are sure to get the disease. While you can’t change some breast cancer risk factors—family history and aging, for example—there are some risk factors that you can control.

  • Lifestyle-related Breast Cancer Risk Factors
  • Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Cannot Change
  • Factors with Unclear Effects on Breast Cancer Risk
  • Disproven or Controversial Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Can Breast Cancer Be Prevented?

There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there are things you can do that might lower your risk. This can be especially helpful for women with certain risk factors for breast cancer, such as having a strong family history or certain gene changes.

  • Can I Lower My Risk of Breast Cancer?
  • Deciding Whether to Use Medicine to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
  • Tamoxifen and Raloxifene for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk
  • Aromatase Inhibitors for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk
  • Preventive Surgery to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

More In Breast Cancer

  • About Breast Cancer
  • Risk and Prevention
  • Early Detection and Diagnosis
  • Understanding a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Breast Reconstruction Surgery
  • Living as a Breast Cancer Survivor
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