PLUS Model Magazine - Archives - 2011 PLUS Model Magazine - October 2013 | Page 174
The Pink Elephant in the Room:
factors that may have an impact on
Breast cancer is one of the leading
the chances of developing breast
causes of death for women within
cancer.
the United States. One in eight
Who is at Risk?
women will be diagnosed with
First, having a risk factor does
breast cancer in their lifetime.
not mean you will develop the
For 2013 alone there have been
disease. Research studies
234,580 new cases reported,
have found social, genetic, and
232,340 (female) and 2,240 (male). biological factors to contribute to
Yes, men can develop breast
the likelihood of developing breast
cancer as well. However, it is
cancer.
estimated at a much lower rate in
General Risk Factors:
comparison to women (1 male for
- Being female
every 100 females).
- Having dense breast
Overall, women of Caucasian
- Aging (women over 70 years
and Jewish descent possess a
of age have the highest rates of
greater likelihood of developing
breast cancer)
breast cancer than women of
- Receiving treatment with radiation
African American, Asian American
to the chest or breast
& Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and
- Being tall (linked to higher levels
Native American heritage. Survival of estrogen in women)
rates vary between each group, but Most Common Genetic
researchers believe early detection Risk Factors:
and screenings contribute to the
- Mutation in BRCA 1 and/or BRCA
increasing number of breast cancer 2 genes
survivors. Although the exact
- Significant number of family
cause of breast cancer is yet to
members with breast cancer
be determined, there are a few
- Being of Ashkenazi Jewish
PLUS-MODEL-MAG.COM / OCT 2013
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