One in eight women will fight breast cancer in their lifetime. To determine your personal risk, visit with your physician or schedule an appointment at Sanford Breast Health Institute (BHI). Sanford Breast Health Institute offers various screening technologies to help detect early signs of breast cancer.

Here are some other helpful tips that can lower our risk for breast cancer:

• Limit Alcohol Consumption: Regular alcohol consumption has consistently been linked with a modest increase in risk of breast cancer; by limiting alcohol intake women are likely to reduce their risk of breast cancer as well as several other types of cancer.
• Achieve or Maintain a Healthy Body Weight: Excess body weight has been linked with an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. By achieving or maintaining a healthy weight, women can reduce their risk of breast cancer.
• Engage in Regular Physical Activity: Life-long physical activity is an important component of cancer prevention and several studies suggest that regular physical activity may decrease the risk of developing breast cancer.

A tremendous amount of promising research is under way to determine the cause of breast cancer and to establish effective ways to prevent it. Many environmental risk factors can be avoided. Others – such as family history – cannot. Women can help protect themselves by making healthy nutrition choices, staying active and avoiding other risk factors which may lead to breast cancer.

• Age: The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. Most cases of breast cancer occur in women over 60.
• Personal history of breast cancer: A woman who had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting cancer in her other breast.
• Family history: The risk of breast cancer is higher if a woman’s mother, sister or daughter had breast cancer. Having other relatives with breast cancer may also increase a woman's risk.
• Certain breast changes
• Gene changes: Changes in certain the BRCA1 or BRCA2, genes increase the risk of breast cancer. Genetic counseling can sometimes show the presence of specific gene changes in families with many women who have had breast cancer.
• Reproductive and menstrual history: A woman’s menstrual history, reproductive history and menopausal history can also lead to an increased risk of breast cancer. Talk to your doctor to determine if you are at risk.
• Race: Breast cancer is diagnosed more often in white women than Latina, Asian or African American women.
• Breast density: Older women whose mammograms show more dense tissue are at increased risk of breast cancer.
• Being overweight or obese after menopause: The chance of getting breast cancer after menopause is higher in women who are overweight or obese.
• Lack of physical activity: Women who are physically inactive throughout life may have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Drinking alcohol: Studies suggest that the more alcohol a woman drinks, the greater her risk of breast cancer.