Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 8/5/2009

Question
Dear Sir,
I want to ask a question about breast cancer:
How can we protect ourselves from breast cancer, and can ladies before 40 suffer from it?or only over 40??and should the lady be married to suffer from it or it is not necessary?
Thanks very much..

Answer
Breast cancer CAN strike young women too even if it is rare. The youngest I have seen was 23. Otherwise the risk does increase with age. At 40 the risk is significant and it continues to increase after that too. The risk also increases in women who start to have their menstruations early and who stop to have their menstruations late (probably hormonal effects). At least some hormonal medications given to women because of problems when they stop having menstruations do increase this risk. The risk also increases in women who have not given breast feeding to their children. And to women who do not have any children and to those who have their first child late in life and to those with few children. The risk also increases in overweight women and in tall women. But most important is if there is breast cancer in her family. If her mother has had it the risk increases, also if a sister has had it or any other relative on her mother's side. If both the mother and a sister has had it the risk goes up much. There is also a risk increase if there is breast cancer in the family of her father but not as big. Marriage in itself is not important. The important things are those above here.
Apart from having luck with who your parents are and when you start having children, how many children and how much they are breast fed and by trying to keep your weight in control there is not much to do.