LifeBridge Health   |  Find a Physician  |  Careers  |  Directions  |  Community Calendar  |  Contact
Physician Portal  |  Board Portal
Call 410-601-WELL (9355) to Schedule an Appointment



  • Medical Services
    LifeBridge Health Medical Services

    Bariatric & Minimally Invasive Surgery
    Brain & Spine Institute
    Cancer Institute
    Cardiovascular Institute
    ER-7 Emergency Center
    Hospitalist Program
    Krieger Eye Institute
    Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
    Radiology
    Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics
    Sleep Centers
    Spine Centers
    Vascular Institute

    Additional Services

      Sinai Hospital Medical Services

    Adult Hydrocephalus
    Brain & Spine Institute
    Cancer Institute
    Cardiovascular Institute
    Children's Hospital
    ER-7 Emergency Center
    Geriatric Surgery
    Joint Preservation and Replacement
    Krieger Eye Institute
    Limb Lengthening
    Rehabilitation
    Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics
    Sleep Center
    Stroke Center
    Vascular Institute
    Women's Services

    Additional Services

      Northwest Hospital Medical Services

    Bariatric & Minimally Invasive Surgery
    Brain & Spine Institute

    Breast Care Center
    Cancer Institute
    Cardiovascular Institute
    Center for Diabetic Limb Preservation
    Cosmetic Surgery
    ER-7 Emergency Center
    Krieger Eye Institute
    Psychiatric Services
    Sleep Center
    Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics
    SurgiCenter
    Vascular Institute
    Women's Wellness Center
    Wound Care & HBOT

    Additional Services

  • About LifeBridge Health
    About LifeBridge Health

    About LifeBridge Health
    Annual Report 2016
    At a Glance (PDF)
    FAQs
    Freedom To Be Green
    LifeBridge Health Magazine
    LifeBridge Health Medical Care Partners
    Medical Missions at LifeBridge Health
    Population Health


    LifeBridge Health Departments

    Department of Research
    Government and Community Relations


      LifeBridge Health Management

    LifeBridge Health Board of Directors
    LifeBridge Health Management Team

      About Our Centers

    LifeBridge Health
    Sinai Hospital
    Northwest Hospital
    Carroll Hospital
    Levindale


    About LifeBridge Health
  • Locations
    LifeBridge Health Locations

    Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Northwest Hospital Carroll Hospital Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital LifeBridge health & Fitness
    Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Northwest Hospital Carroll Hospital
    Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital LifeBridge Health
    & Fitness

    Additional Centers

    LifeBridge Health  Practice Dynamics, Inc, PDI  VSP  ExpressCare  

    LifeBridge Health

    Practice Dynamics, Inc. (PDI)

    VSP
     
    ExpressCare
     
  • Giving & Volunteering
    Giving Opportunities

    LifeBridge Health Development
        Contact Us
        Development News
        Donate Now
        Grateful Patient Stories
        Special Events
        Ways to Give
            Get In The Game - Employee Giving Campaign

      Volunteering

    Volunteer at Sinai Hospital
    Volunteer at Northwest Hospital
    Volunteer at Carroll Hospital
    Volunteer at Levindale

    Giving and Volunteering at LifeBridge Health
  • Patient Information
    Sinai Hospital
    Patient Information


    Accommodations
    Campus Map
    Dining - Patient Room Menus
    Dining - Retail
    Directions
    FAQs
    The Hackerman-Patz House
    Important Phone Numbers
    Parking
    Outpatient Pharmacy
    Retail Shops
    Visiting Hours
    Wireless Internet

    For more Sinai Hospital
    patient and visitor information,
    click here.

     

    Northwest Hospital
    Patient Information


    Accommodations
    Campus Map
    Dining - Patient Room Menus
    Dining - Retail
    Directions
    FAQs
    Gift Shop
    Important Phone Numbers
    Parking
    Outpatient Pharmacy
    Visiting Hours
    Wireless Internet


    For more Northwest Hospital
    patient and visitor information,
    click here.


     

    Carroll Hospital
    Patient Information


    Accommodations
    Campus Map
    Dining
    Directions
    FAQs
    Gift Shop
    Important Phone Numbers
    Parking
    Visiting Hours




    For more Carroll Hospital
    patient and visitor information,
    click here.


     

    My LifeBridge Health
    Patient Portal


    Click to access the portal

    My LifeBridge Health Patient Portal  
  • Resources
    LifeBridge Health Resources

    Apps
    Awards
    Blog
    Care Management Services
    Community Calendar
    Contact Us
    Important Information
    Health Library
    Healthstream
    Infographics
    Insurance Plans Accepted
    Laboratory Locations
    LifeBridge Health Partners
    LifeBridge Health Magazine
    Maryland Health Connection
    My LifeBridge Health Patient Portal
    Newsletter Archive & Signup
    News Room
    Outpatient Pharmacy
    Population Health
    Recorded Webinars




    Sitemap
    Social Media
    Vendor Resources
    WBAL-AM Videos

      Contact Us

    Sinai Hospital: 410-601-9000
    Northwest Hospital: 410-521-2200
    Carroll Hospital: 410-848-3000
    Levindale: 410-601-2400
    LifeBridge Health & Fitness: 410-484-6800


    Additional Resources at LifeBridge Health

 

In This Section
en espanol
Cirugías y procedimientos
Recursos en Internet
Videoteca
Library
Adult Conditions
Tests and Procedures
Herbs, Vitamins & Supplements
Nutrition Facts
Prevention Guidelines
Wellness Library
Multimedia
Animations
Podcasts
Clinical Wizards
Videos
Healthy Living
Back and Neck
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Fitness
Mental Health
Nutrition
Smoking Cessation
Stress Management
Weight Management
Health Centers
Neuroscience
Asthma
Cancer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Obesity & Bariatric Surgery
Orthopedic
Pregnancy and Newborns
Your Family
Children's Health
Men's Health
Older Adults
Women's Health
Interactive Tools
Quizzes
footer
FIND A PHYSICIAN
line
ONLINE APPOINTMENT REQUEST
line
MY LBH PATIENT PORTAL
line
VISITOR & PATIENT INFORMATION
line
CONTACT US
line
PAY YOUR BILL ONLINE
Home >> Health Library >> Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
Printer Friendly Version  Email A Friend  Add This  Increase Text Size  Decrease Text Size

StayWell Health Library

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Health Library
Library
Adult Conditions
Tests and Procedures
Herbs, Vitamins & Supplements
Nutrition Facts
Prevention Guidelines
Wellness Library
Healthy Living
Back and Neck
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Fitness
Mental Health
Nutrition
Smoking Cessation
Stress Management
Weight Management
Health Centers
Neuroscience
Asthma
Cancer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Obesity & Bariatric Surgery
Orthopedic
Pregnancy and Newborns
Your Family
Children's Health
Men's Health
Older Adults
Women's Health


< Back to Results

Breast Health Assessment

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women other than skin cancer. The American Cancer Society says the breast cancer death rate is declining. This is probably because of earlier detection through routine screening and better treatment. Early detection is the main way to find breast cancer when it’s small and easier to treat.

This short assessment will help you learn if you have risk factors that may raise your breast cancer risk. It is not a complete review of all breast cancer risks. For a complete evaluation of your risks, see your healthcare provider. Knowing your breast cancer risk is helpful when making a breast cancer screening plan.

This tool is not meant for women who have or have had breast cancer.

African American Asian Caucasian Hispanic Other
lbs.
Feet Inches
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Mother Daughter Sister Aunt (mother’s or father’s sister) Grandmother No family history of breast cancer
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) Atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) None of these
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No

Your Results

Because of your age, your risk of developing breast cancer is very low.

Because of your age, your risk of developing breast cancer is low.

Because of your age alone, your risk of developing breast cancer is slightly higher than for a younger woman.

Because of your age, your risk of developing breast cancer is higher than when you were younger. But because you have other risk factors (listed below), your risk is even higher than others in your age group.

Because of your age, you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Because of your age, you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. The other risk factors you have reported (listed below) increase that risk even more when compared with a same-age person without any other known risk factors.

Age is the greatest risk factor for developing breast cancer. Children rarely develop breast cancer. Between the ages of 45 and 65, your risk of developing breast cancer increases. This is especially true for women who have risk factors other than age. According to the American Cancer Society, about 2 out of 3 cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed in women ages 55 and older.

Age is the greatest risk factor for developing breast cancer. Children rarely develop breast cancer. Starting at age 45, your risk of developing breast cancer goes up, especially if you have other risk factors. Some of these risk factors will put you at increasingly higher risk as you grow older.

Age is the greatest risk factor for developing breast cancer. At age 65 or older, your risk for breast cancer increases with each passing year. According to the American Cancer Society, about 2 out of 3 cases of invasive breast cancer occur after age 55. If other risk factors are present, they become more important in knowing the risk of developing breast cancer in women older than 65.

Age is the greatest risk factor for developing breast cancer. At age 65 or older, your risk for breast cancer increases with each passing year. According to the American Cancer Society, about 2 out of 3 cases of invasive breast cancer occur after age 55. Other risk factors become more important in knowing the risk of developing breast cancer in women older than 65.

Because you are younger than 17, you have almost no risk of developing breast cancer at this time, even if you have other risk factors (listed below). Any risk factors you do have will put you in increasingly higher risk for breast cancer as you grow older.

Because you are not yet 45 years old, your risk of developing breast cancer at this time is low even if you have other risk factors (listed below). Any risk factors you do have will put you in increasingly higher risk for breast cancer as you grow older.

According to this assessment, your risk factors and their impact are listed below. Talk with your healthcare provider to review all of your risk factors, what can be done about them, and what they may mean in your case.

Factors that increase your risk of developing breast cancer

  • Age
  • Family history of breast cancer
  • Family history of early onset breast cancer
  • Personal history of uterine cancer
  • Personal history of ovarian cancer
  • Certain inherited gene mutations
  • Personal history of certain breast conditions that aren't cancer. These include lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), or atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH).
  • Personal history of chest radiation to treat another cancer as a child or teen
  • Being overweight or obese after menopause. A BMI of places you in the obese category.
  • Drinking alcoholic beverages. The risk for developing breast cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. If you have no more than one drink a day, your risk rises by only a very small amount. Women who have 2 to 5 drinks a day have about 1-1/2 times the risk of women who don't drink.
  • Dense breast tissue (seen on a mammogram)
  • Currently taking combined hormone therapy (both estrogen and progesterone) to treat symptoms of menopause

Factors that put you at a slightly higher than average risk

  • Ethnicity. Caucasians have an increased incidence of breast cancer when compared with African Americans.
  • Ethnicity. African Americans actually have a lower incidence of breast cancer than Caucasians, but are more likely to die from the disease.
  • Smoking. Long-term heavy smoking can raise your risk for breast cancer. Because smoking is clearly tied to many cancers, it's a good idea to do all you can to quit smoking.
  • First childbirth after age 30
  • Menarche (start of menstruation) before age 12
  • Menopause after age 55
  • Personal history of taking the medicine diethylstilbestrol (DES), or your mother took it while pregnant with you
  • Currently taking hormone-based birth control, such as birth control pills

Your risk factors

You have indicated no risk factors for breast cancer.

You have indicated no risk factors for breast cancer other than age.

About risk factors and preventive screening

Some risk factors, such as age, family health history, and no full-term pregnancies, cannot be changed. But you can change others such as weight, smoking, and alcohol consumption. If you have risk factors that can be changed, you should consider making lifestyle changes to reduce those risks. You should avoid alcohol, quit smoking, and lose weight if you need to. After menopause, you should avoid hormone therapy, or use low doses for only a brief time. In addition, a healthy diet and regular exercise may reduce breast cancer risk.

A large portion of the women with breast cancer have no risk factors. Having risk factors doesn't mean that you will develop breast cancer. But having risk factors is a good reason to discuss them with your doctor and schedule regular screening mammograms.

Whether you have risk factors or not, it's important to get breast cancer screening. Here are recommendations from the American Cancer Society (ACS) for screenings in women of average risk for breast cancer:

  • All women should know the benefits, limits, and potential harms of breast cancer screening. They should also know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to a healthcare provider right away.
  • Women ages 40 to 44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they wish to do so. They should consider both the risks and potential benefits of screening.
  • Women ages 45 to 54 should get a mammogram every year.
  • Women ages 55 and older should switch to a mammogram every 2 years, or have the choice to continue yearly screening.
  • Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

This information is not intended as a substitute for professional health care. Always consult with a healthcare provider for advice concerning your health. Only your healthcare provider can determine if you have breast cancer.

This assessment is not intended to replace the evaluation of a healthcare professional.

LifeBridge Health | Sinai Hospital | Northwest Hospital | Carroll Hospital | Levindale | LifeBridge Health & Fitness

 

LifeBridge Health
2401 W. Belvedere Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21215
Contact Us: 410-601-9000

Directions

    LifeBridge Health Map - Click here for directions.

Join LifeBridge Health on: Facebook Twitter YouTube LBH Blog LinkedIn Instagram

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter

Terms of Use  |  Privacy Policy  |  HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices  |  Transportation Policy |
Nondiscrimination Notice and Foreign Language Assistance

Loading... Loading...