How to look out for and fight off breast cancer

One in eight American women will develop breast cancer, and 281,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year.¹ But there’s hope—3.8 million have survived the disease.²

Are you at risk?

Gender

Men can develop breast cancer, but women are 100x more likely to.³

Genetics

A woman’s risk is nearly 2x if she has a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed, but 85% of breast cancers occur in women with no family history.²

Age

The older you are, the more likely you are to develop it.¹ 

Weight

Excess body weight or obesity after menopause increases risk.⁴

Race

African American women have a 39% higher risk than white women of dying from breast cancer.⁵

→ Get the infographic: How to look out for and fight off breast cancer [Download Now]

Prevention tips

Eat healthy

Eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily—pomegranates, grape seed extract, and blueberries all contain powerful breast cancer-fighting agents; limit processed and red meat; and choose whole grains.³ 

Watch your weight

Walk for just 75 to 150 minutes weekly to lower risk.⁴

Avoid alcohol

Don’t drink more than one beverage a day—women who have three drinks a week have a 15% higher risk.⁶

Get screened

Remember to self-check and get your annual mammogram starting at age 40.³ 

Last updated: February 18, 2021

References

1 How common is breast cancer? American Cancer Society Web site. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html. Updated January 8, 2020. Accessed November 23, 2020.

2 U.S. breast cancer statistics. Breastcancer.org Web site. https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics. Updated June 25, 2020. Accessed October 7, 2020.

3 Simon S. How your weight may affect your risk of breast cancer. American Cancer Society News. October 4, 2018. https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/how-your-weight-affects-your-risk-of-breast-cancer.html. Accessed November 23, 2020.

4 American Association for Cancer Research. AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2020. https://cancerprogressreport.aacr.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/AACR_CDPR_2020.pdf. Published 2020. Accessed October 6, 2020.

5 Make breast cancer awareness a year-round focus (with infographic). City of Hope Breakthroughs Blog. https://www.cityofhope.org/blog/make-breast-cancer-awareness-a-year-round-focus. Published October 12, 2016. Accessed January 14, 2021.

6 Drinking alcohol. Breastcancer.org Web site. https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/alcohol. Updated September 11, 2020. Accessed November 23, 2020.