Key takeaways
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. One in seven women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
- Most breast cancers occur in women over 50 but younger women can get breast cancer, too. Men can also get breast cancer, although this is rare.
- There are some lifestyle factors associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, such as drinking alcohol
- In the UK, women aged 50 to 71 are invited for a mammogram every three years as part of a National Breast Screening Programme
Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the breast tissue. It’s the most common cancer in the UK, affecting one in seven women during their lifetime. While the main risk factors for breast cancer aren’t preventable, there is evidence to suggest that some lifestyle changes can reduce risk. The most important of these is to limit how much alcohol you drink. In this guide, Perci’s Lead Cancer Nurse Specialist, Rachel Rawson discusses this and other risk factors for breast cancer, as well as the importance of screening in breast cancer prevention.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, but around a quarter of cases are thought to be preventable
Cancer Research UK
Who is at risk of developing breast cancer?
Around 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. Most breast cancers (80%) occur in women over the age of 50. The older you are, the higher your risk but younger women can be affected too, so it’s important to be breast aware whatever your age.
Men can also get breast cancer, but this is rare and around 370 men are diagnosed every year. Most men who get breast cancer are over 60. There’s no breast screening programme for men, so it’s important to be chest aware. It’s also important for transgender women to be breast aware if they are undergoing hormone treatment, as research suggests that they may be at increased risk of breast cancer compared to cisgender men.
Most breast cancers are not inherited and only a small number of people have an increased risk of developing breast cancer because they have a significant family history. If you have a relative with breast cancer, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re more likely to develop it yourself. However, sometimes, someone’s family history suggests they could be at increased risk because there’s an altered gene in their family that increases the risk. Only about 5–10% of breast cancers are due to having inherited an altered gene. Someone may be more likely to have a significant family history if two or more close relatives were diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age, or if one relative has had breast cancer in both breasts.
If you are worried about your family history of breast cancer and want to know more, you can talk to your GP. Special guidance has been developed to help GPs to know when to refer someone who is worried about a family history of breast cancer, to a specialist.
Does drinking alcohol increase your risk of breast cancer?
The main risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman, getting older and having a family history. These are risk factors that you can’t change, however, there are some things that you may be able to control that can increase your risk. Arguably the most important of these is drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol is an ingrained part of many cultures worldwide, as is the idea that ‘one drink won’t hurt’. However research by the World Cancer Research Fund found that drinking even one alcoholic drink a day can increase your risk of both pre-and post-menopausal breast cancer.
The more alcohol we drink, the greater our breast cancer risk is. One explanation for this is that when we drink alcohol, it is converted into a toxic substance called acetaldehyde. The more we drink, the more toxic acetaldehyde builds up, which means more cancer-causing damage can be done to the cells. However, even a small amount of alcohol could cause some build up of toxic acetaldehyde, which could lead to cell damage, which is why even one drink increases your risk.
World Cancer Research Fund
In other words, limiting the amount of alcohol you drink can reduce your risk of breast cancer.
What other factors increase breast cancer risk?
Gaining weight as an adult
Evidence shows that the more weight people gain as adults, particularly around the menopause, the higher the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. You can reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight.
Not doing enough physical activity
Studies show that greater exposure to oestrogens increases the risk of breast cancer, and physical activity has been shown to lower oestrogen levels. You can reduce your risk of breast cancer by being physically active for around 20 minutes a day.
Not breastfeeding when you have a baby
Because women do not have periods while they breastfeed, their lifetime exposure to certain hormones changes, which is thought to impact cancer risk. Breastfeeding your children slightly reduces your risk of breast cancer.
What is the role of breast cancer screening?
Breast screening programmes prevent around 1,300 women in the UK dying from breast cancer every year
Breast Cancer Now
Breast screening uses a breast X-ray called a mammogram to look for cancers when they’re too small to see or feel. In the UK, women aged 50 to 71 are invited for a mammogram every three years as part of a national breast screening programme. Remaining breast aware in between screening mammograms will help you to notice any changes and report them to your GP as soon as you can. After age 71 a woman can continue to have breast screening but will need to request this through her local screening centre. There are, however, exceptions to this. For example breast screening is more frequent and begins at an earlier age for women who have been identified by a healthcare specialist as having a significant risk of developing breast cancer.
It’s important to note that the NHS breast screening programme offers screening to transgender women, and also to transgender men who have not had top surgery. However, you’ll only be automatically invited for screening if you are registered as a female with your GP.
If you’re worried about symptoms you are having that might be associated with breast cancer, or if you have a family history of the disease, it’s important to tell your GP. However, if you’d like to understand more about anything you have read in this article, Perci’s Cancer Nurse Specialists can answer your questions and direct you to other professionals who can help.
While we have ensured that every article is medically reviewed and approved, information presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to one of our healthcare professionals or your primary healthcare team.
References:
‘Breast Cancer Statistics’, canceresearchuk.org, https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/breast-cancer
‘Breast Cancer Symptoms’, breastcancernow.org, July 2021, https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/have-i-got-breast-cancer/signs-symptoms-breast-cancer
‘Study shows increased risk of breast cancer in transgender women’, bmj.com, May 2019, https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/study-shows-increased-risk-of-breast-cancer-in-transgender-women/‘Breast Cancer’, wcrf-uk.org, https://www.wcrf-uk.org/cancer-types/breast-cancer/