Each year in the United States, about 240,000 women and 2,100 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer, which is why breast cancer awareness and screening are so important. In May 2023, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the breast cancer screening age from 50 to 40 – but do these age screenings apply to everyone? What factors contribute to a high-risk classification for breast cancer, and how do we identify if we are at genetic risk? We spoke with Lauren Nye, MD, board-certified oncologist at the University of Kansas Cancer Center and Clinical Medical Director of Breast Cancer Prevention, about the importance of assessing your cancer risk, learning your genetic history, and prioritizing your overall health.

<p>Each year in the United States, about 240,000 women and 2,100 men are diagnosed with <a href="https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/understanding-breast-cancer-basics" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/understanding-breast-cancer-basics&source=gmail&ust=1694104045254000&usg=AOvVaw2Qp9sgqCSV7pzYROxNI1ca">breast cancer</a>. The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer, which is why breast cancer awareness and screening are so important. In May 2023, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the breast cancer <a href="https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/files/breast-cancer/Breast_Cancer_DRS_Consumer_Guide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/files/breast-cancer/Breast_Cancer_DRS_Consumer_Guide.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1694104045255000&usg=AOvVaw2pM6AYyWjcTKrg_FwACsR_">screening</a> age from 50 to 40 – but do these age screenings apply to everyone? What factors contribute to a high-risk classification for breast cancer, and how do we identify if we are at genetic risk? We spoke with <a href="https://findadoctor.kucancercenter.org/provider/Lauren+E+Nye/1220354" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://findadoctor.kucancercenter.org/provider/Lauren%2BE%2BNye/1220354&source=gmail&ust=1694104045255000&usg=AOvVaw3vqdC2jiyXw-jxjX8qbPc0">Lauren Nye, MD</a>, board-certified oncologist at the University of Kansas Cancer Center and Clinical Medical Director of Breast Cancer Prevention, about the importance of assessing your <a href="https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/what-causes-breast-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/what-causes-breast-cancer&source=gmail&ust=1694104045255000&usg=AOvVaw3aRqBH5tk9naKo3c-wvzdH">cancer risk</a>, learning your <a href="https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/genetic-mutations" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/genetic-mutations&source=gmail&ust=1694104045255000&usg=AOvVaw01UE_BE2Us8nj7DJl9OX0f">genetic history</a>, and prioritizing your overall health.</p>

WebMD Chief Physician Editor Neha Pathak, MD, and Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explore fascinating stories to find the unexpected things that help us understand our health.

Health Discovered

Each year in the United States, about 240,000 women and 2,100 men are diagnosed with . The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will...