II. Resources: Breast Cancer Risk
- Gail Model Breast Cancer Risk Calculator (BCRAT)
- https://bcrisktool.cancer.gov//
- Does not assess risk in BRCA 1/2 patients
- Risk >3% in 5 years is considered increased Breast Cancer risk
- Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium Model
III. Risk Factors: Major
- Female Gender: 75% have no other known risk factors
- Age related Breast CancerIncidence in women
- Age 25 years = 1:19608 risk
- Age 30 years = 1:2525 risk
- Age 35 years = 1:622 risk
- Age 40 years = 1:217 risk
- Age 45 years = 1:93 risk
- Age 50 years = 1:50 risk
- Age 55 years = 1:33 risk
- Age 60 years = 1:24 risk
- Age 65 years = 1:17 risk
- Age 70 years = 1:14 risk
- Age 75 years = 1:11 risk
- Age 80 years = 1:10 risk
- Age 85 years = 1:9 risk
- Lifetime = 1:8 risk
- Reference
IV. Risk Factors: Other
- History of Breast Cancer
- Personal History
- Inversely related to Age
- Risk: 0.5% - 1% per year for at least 15 years
- Overall Relative Risk: 1.42
- Family HistoryRelative Risk
- First Degree relative: 2.3 Relative Risk
- Unilateral/Postmenopausal: 1.2 Relative Risk
- Unilateral/Premenopausal: 1.8 Relative Risk
- Bilateral/Postmenopausal: 4.0 Relative Risk
- Bilateral/Premenopausal: 8.8 Relative Risk
- Second Degree relative: 1.5 Relative Risk
- Mother and Sister affected: 14.0 Relative Risk
- First Degree relative: 2.3 Relative Risk
- References
- Personal History
-
Gene Mutations
- Most common types (>20 mutations have been identified)
- BRCA (BRCA1, BRCA2): 60% of Breast Cancer gene mutations
- See BRCA1 and BRCA2 for specific Relative Risk based on type and age
- AT (Ataxia Telangiectasia) on Chromosome 11
- PTEN gene (Cowden syndrome)
- CDH1 gene (hereditary diffuse Gastric Cancer)
- TP53 gene (Li-Fraumeni syndrome)
- STK11 gene (Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome)
- BRCA (BRCA1, BRCA2): 60% of Breast Cancer gene mutations
- Associated risk
- Overall, these mutations account for only 3-5% of all Breast Cancers
- Cummulative lifetime risk of Breast Cancer in those with mutation: 25-85%
- Most common types (>20 mutations have been identified)
- Chest Radiation Therapy (childhood exposure)
- Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR) 21.9 (overall) to 43.6 (whole lung)
- Risk of Breast Cancer by age 50 years old: 30%
-
Parity
- Age at first birth
- Age at first birth <20 years: 1.0 Relative Risk
- Age at first birth 20-24 years: 1.2 Relative Risk
- Age at first birth 25-29 years: 1.6 Relative Risk
- Age at first birth 30-35 years: 1.9 Relative Risk
- Age at first birth >35 years: 1.9 Relative Risk
- Nulliparous: 1.6 Relative Risk
- References
- Modified from McMahon based on Gail Model
- McMahon (1970) Bull World Health Organ 43:209-12 [PubMed]
- Age at first birth
- Ethnicity
- Latinas may have higher Breast CancerIncidence
- Many of these latina patients were under age 35
- Also more aggressive Breast Cancer in this group
- References
- Latinas may have higher Breast CancerIncidence
- Hyperplasia on Breast Biopsy
- Fibrocystic Breast changes: No increased risk
- Hyperplasia
- No atypia: 2.0 Relative Risk
- Atypia (4% Incidence): 5.0 Relative Risk
- Increased Breast density
- Breast density is the ratio of glandular and stromal tissue to adipose tissue
- Breast density >75% confers 4.7 Odds Ratio over those with Breast density <10%
V. Risk Factors: Other Risks
-
Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT or HRT)
- Controversial (study results vary widely)
- Some studies show significant risk with >5 years use
- Risk increased by 40% (1.4 Relative Risk)
- Colditz (1995) New Engl J Med 332:1589-93 [PubMed]
- Meta analysis shows no increased Breast Cancer risk
- HRT associated with reduced Breast Cancer mortality
- May be a result of earlier detection
- Bush (2001) Obstet Gynecol 98:498-508 [PubMed]
-
Tobacco Abuse
- Does not appear to increase the risk of the primary Breast Cancer
- Does appear to increase pulmonary metastasis risk (Odds Ratio 1.96)
-
Alcohol
- Relative Risk increases 7% per drink consumed over 1 per day
- Hamajima (2002) Br J Cancer 87(11): 1234-45 [PubMed]
- Red meat consumption
- Increased risk of Estrogen receptor positive cancer
- Relative Risk: 1.97 for >1.5 red meat servings/day
- Cho (2006) Arch Intern Med 166:2253-9 [PubMed]
-
Overweight
- Postmenopausal weight gain >20 kg doubles Breast Cancer risk
- BMI >31 confers 1.6 fold increased Breast Cancer risk
VI. Risk Factors: No effect (or minimal or inconclusive effect) on Breast Cancer risk
-
Oral Contraceptives
- No (or minimal) increased Breast Cancer risk
- Reference
- Elective or Spontaneous Abortion
- No increased risk of Breast Cancer
- Reference
- Cummulative Antibiotic use
- Was thought to be associated with Breast Cancer risk
- Other studies suggest no increased risk
-
Calcium Channel Blockers
- May be associated with increased Breast Cancer risk with more than 10 years of Calcium Channel Blocker use
- Additional studies are needed for confirmation
- Li (2013) JAMA Intern Med, Published online August 05, 2013
VII. Prevention: Protective against Breast Cancer
-
Lactation
- Risk decreases with 2 years of cumulative Lactation
- Affects premenopausal risk (not postmenopausal risk)
- Reference
- Bilateral oophorectomy before age 50 years
- Cuts Breast CancerRelative Risk by half
- Bilateral risk reducing Mastectomy
- Indicated in high risk patients (BRCA1/2)
- Later onset Menarche
- Risk decreases 10% per every 2 years of Menarche delayed beyond age 12 years
-
Exercise (greater risk reduction with increased duration and intensity)
- Premenopause: Breast CancerRelative Risk drops up to 30%
- Postmenopause: Breast CancerRelative Risk drops by up to 22%
VIII. Prevention: Primary prevention medication regimens
- Indications: High risk for Breast Cancer (5 year Breast Cancer risk >1.66%)
- See Risk Calculators under Resources above
- High risk indications typically include strong factors (e.g. atypical hyperplasia)
- Breast Cancer Prevention in pre-Menopause or post-Menopause
- Indicated if Breast Cancer risk >1.66% in 5 years and age over 35 years old
- Tamoxifen has higher efficacy than Raloxifene for breast Cancer Prevention
- But also higher Venous Thromboembolism and Endometrial Cancer Risks
- Unlike Tamoxifen, Raloxifene is not approved for pre-menopausal breast Cancer Prevention
- Preparations
- Tamoxifen 20 mg daily for 5 years
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM)
- Indicated in pre-Menopause (age over 35 years) or post-Menopause patients
- Higher efficacy than Raloxifene for breast Cancer Prevention
- Prevents 7 Breast Cancers/1000 women over 5 years
- Higher Venous Thromboembolism (4/1000) risk than Raloxifene
- Higher Endometrial Cancer (4/1000) risk than Raloxifene
- Contraindicated in Venous Thromboembolism history or increased risks or with history of CVA or TIA
- Avoid with agents that decreased Tamoxifen efficacy
- Avoid with Bupropion (Wellbutrin), Fluoxetine (Prozac) or Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Raloxifene (Evista) 60 mg daily for 5 years
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM) indicated in post-Menopause patients
- Lower efficacy than Tamoxifen for breast Cancer Prevention, but also lower VTE and Endometrial Cancer risk
- Also effective in Osteoporosis Prevention and management
- Contraindicated in Venous Thromboembolism history or increased risks or with history of CVA or TIA
- Exemestane (Aromasin) 25 mg daily for 5 years
- Aromatase Inhibitor indicated in post-menopausal women
- In whom Tamoxifen or Raloxifene are contraindicated
- May be more effective than SERMs, but has not been compared in study
- Prevents 9 Breast Cancers/1000 women over 3 years
- Contraindicated in Osteoporosis (decreases Bone Mineral Density)
- Calcium Supplementation (1200 mg daily) are recommended
- Vitamin D Supplemention (1000-2000 IU) are recommended
- Aromatase Inhibitor indicated in post-menopausal women
- Tamoxifen 20 mg daily for 5 years
- References