Breast Cancer is a very common disease in Australian women, with there being a 1 in 7 chance of developing the disease before the age of 85. This can create a lot of anxiety for people and I completely understand this.

As a breast surgeon, my patients regularly ask me if their loved ones will have to go through what they did with their breasts.

While family history is an important risk factor, the majority of women with breast cancer don't have a strong family history. I’ll get into what a ‘strong family history’ means soon. 

In saying that, I don’t want you to get complacent. We all need to understand and do what we can to mitigate our risk of breast cancer. 

Strong family history and breast cancer risk

A strong family history of breast cancer is a significant risk factor for women. What this looks like is 2 or more relatives on one side of the family (either mother or father’s side) who have had breast or ovarian cancer.

If you’re concerned about your family’s history of breast cancer, you can consult a specialist about genetic testing.

To give you an idea of how genetic testing works, I do a thorough risk assessment with my patients using detailed personal history, family history, particular cancer types and any known genetic mutations in the family. I then order specific genetic testing to determine their risk.

Please reach out if you would like to explore genetic testing.

Healthy choices to reduce the risk of breast cancer

While no one can guarantee a life free from breast cancer, there are many lifestyle choices we can make to reduce our risk.

These include maintaining a healthy weight, doing regular exercise, eliminating alcohol, and no smoking!

I am passionate about promoting the things that we as women can do to reduce our risk of breast cancer because we are not powerless. Women are strong and we can reduce our risk of breast cancer and other cancers by making healthy choices.

Other things we can do to reduce our risk of breast cancer

Breast screening

Breast screening saves lives. Data from the AIHW showed there were around 145,000 fewer screening mammograms performed through BreastScreen Australia in January to June 2020 compared with January to June 2018.  

It is essential that Australian women don’t delay or postpone breast screening, even in a pandemic. Australian women are eligible for free breast screening in Australia from the age of 40 and you can find out more about breast screening during COVID-19 on the BreastScreen Australia website.  Alternatively, private radiology providers can offer breast imaging including ultrasound. 

Along with annual breast screening, it’s important to check your breasts once a month in the shower.

Surgery

Preventive breast cancer surgery may be an option for women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. This surgery can significantly reduce a person’s risk of developing breast cancer by removing nearly all of the breast tissue. 

Women who have this surgery can choose to have a breast reconstruction if they want to. This is something I have done for many women with high risk breast genetics but the choice is always up to the patient.

Talking to your doctor is the best way to make an informed decision about reducing your risk of breast cancer when there is family history.

The best thing you can do to protect against breast cancer is regular breast screening, checking your breasts every month, and making healthy lifestyle choices.