IF YOUR MUM HAS HAD breast cancer YOUR RISK … doubles

Most women who develop breast cancer have no family history of it. However, your risk increases if close relatives on either side of the family have had it — particularly if they were diagnosed before they reached the age of 50. GENETICS Genes may account for between 5 to 10 per cent of all breast cancers. However, some women inherit ‘faulty’ copies of two genes in particular that put them at increased risk — BRCA1 and BRCA2. IF IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY Women with a first-degree relative (i.e. mother, sister, daughter) who has had breast cancer have on average twice the risk of developing breast cancer. The more first-degree relatives with breast cancer, the greater the risk. If you’ve inherited a faulty gene, the risk of developing breast cancer by the age of 80 rises steeply from 11 per cent (the risk to the general population) to between 69 and 72 per cent.

For more information on breast cancer and genes, visit bcna.org.au/breast-health-awareness/risk-factors

Reduc your ris by …

Eating five serves of vegetables a day One food alone can’t cause or cure cancer, but eating a variety of colourful vegies boosts your antioxidant intake, reducing your cancer risk. Antioxidants, which ‘mop up’ cancer-causing free radicals, are found in high levels in tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes and dark, leafy greens.