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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