Risk and Prevention

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About one in every eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. If breast cancer is detected early—before cancerous cells have spread to other parts of the body—there is a higher likelihood it will be successfully treated and often cured. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for women with breast cancer is 98 percent with early detection. We encourage you to incorporate regular risk assessments and screenings as part of your overall health routine.

Make an Appointment

Find a breast health specialist close to home and make an appointment today.

Risk Factors

  • Getting older
  • Genetic mutations
  • Reproductive history
  • Having dense breasts
  • Personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases
  • Family history of breast cancer
  • Previous treatment using radiation therapy
  • Not being physically active
  • Being overweight or obese after menopause
  • Taking hormones
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Smoking

What is My Risk?

Learn more about your risk using the online Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), which is based on a statistical model known as the Gail Model, named after Dr. Mitchell Gail, Senior Investigator in the Biostatistics Branch of the NCI Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.