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Established risk factors
My Breakthrough
Age
Getting older is an important risk factor for most diseases including cancer.
For most women, increasing age is the single biggest risk factor for breast cancer and as a woman gets older her risk of breast cancer increases.
Over 80% of all breast cancer cases in the UK are in women over the age of 50 and breast cancer is rare in women under the age of 40.
Estimated risk of developing breast cancer according to age:
The risk of developing breast cancer at some point during your life is 1 in 9.
There isn't a lot we can do about getting older. But all women should be breast aware and women who are over the age of 50 should also attend the NHS Breast Screening Programme. You can find out more about breast awareness and screening on this website.
Over 80% of all breast cancer cases in the UK are in women over the age of 50 and breast cancer is rare in women under the age
of 40.
Estimated risk of developing breast cancer according to age:
- Risk up to age 25 1 in 15,000
- Risk up to age 30 1 in 1,900
- Risk up to age 40 1 in 200
- Risk up to age 50 1 in 50
- Risk up to age 60 1 in 23
- Risk up to age 70 1 in 15
- Risk up to age 80 1 in 11
- Risk up to age 85 1 in 10
The risk of developing breast cancer at some point during your life is 1 in 9.
There isn't a lot we can do about getting older. But all women should be breast aware and women who are over the age of 50 should also attend the NHS Breast Screening Programme. You can find out more about breast awareness and screening on this website.
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