Assessing breast cancer risk: genetic factors are not the whole story
Larissa A Korde1, Kathleen A Calzone, JoAnne Zujewski
1Division of Cancer Prevention, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. kordel@mail.nih.gov
Abstract:
Genetic syndromes that convey a significant risk of breast cancer are responsible for a small but significant percentage of these cancers. However, the vast majority of breast cancers occur in women with no family history of the disease. Nongenetic risk factors include age, previous breast disease, breast tissue density, radiation exposure, and lifestyle factors, such as weight, exercise, and alcohol consumption. In this article, the authors outline genetic and other risk factors for breast cancer, explore risk-reduction strategies, and encourage primary care physicians to assess breast cancer risk in all their patients.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
