Epidemiology

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1. Most common cancer in N. American females

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2. Second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women

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3. Increasing incidence with age (median age is 64)

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4. Male breast cancer comprises <1% of all cases

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5. Genetic factors: first degree relative with breast cancer increases risk,

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hereditary breast cancer syndromes (eg., BRCA 1 and 2, Li-Fraumeni

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syndrome, Lynch syndrome)

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6. BRCA 1 increases risk for breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancers

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7. BRCA 2 increases risk for breast cancer (including male breast cancer) and

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pancreatic cancers (lower risk for ovarian cancer compared with BRCA 1)

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8. The vast majority (90%) of cases of breast cancer are “sporadic”

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9. Endocrine risks: prolonged endogenous estrogen from early menarche, late

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parity, nulliparity or late menopause increases risk. Small increased risk with

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post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy (greatest with combined

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estrogen and progesterone), but not with oral contraceptives

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10. High fat diet, obesity, alcohol consumption, and possibly smoking are other

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risk factors

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11. Ionizing radiation increases risk (in developing years)

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12. History of atypical hyperplasia increases risk 4-5X

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13. LCIS/DCIS increases risk 8-10X

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Life Long Learning Project: Breast Cancer