There are a lot of different factors that determine the risk of someone developing breast cancer. There is evidence of a range of genetic and lifestyle factors playing a part in increasing the risk of someone developing the disease.
NHS Choices provides some good information on risk factors here.
These factors do not mean you will definitely get breast cancer. Sometimes, people with none of these risk factors will develop breast cancer- we don’t know what causes the disease in all cases. Whether you think you are at higher risk or not, it is important that you attend your breast screenings and go to your GP if you experience any unusual symptoms.
Key symptoms of breast cancer are:
Some rare types of breast cancer can have different symptoms, so if you are at all concerned about changes to your breasts, please make an appointment with your GP- if it is cancer, they would much rather catch it early and make sure that you have the best chance of successful treatment.
There are a lot of support groups and sources of information available if you are concerned about breast cancer. To find a local support group please go to our support directory.
Your general health and wellbeing is important. You may find that holistic therapies, counselling or social activities help you to stay well during your experience with cancer. For information on local health and wellbeing services please click here.
For more information about breast cancer here’s some useful links:
Nearly 8 out of 10 women will survive 10 years or more following a diagnosis of breast cancer. Successful treatment is much more likely for people who are screened and diagnosed early, so please:
Many people find it useful to speak to others who are going through the same things as them. There are a range of support groups in our area, some focusing on specific cancers and other more generally.
