We all face risks to our health and well-being. It is helpful to know how to understand those risks, find out what they mean for our health, and learn what we can do to try to reduce the risks and improve our chance of good health.
In this section of the web site, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation provides you with suggestions for how to evaluate and understand information about breast cancer, including statistics, risk factors, risk assessment tools, media reports, and research studies.
Defining risk
Health risks are often described in terms of risk factors. A risk factor is anything that may increase your chance of developing a disease.
Established breast cancer risk factors are supported by a body of research with conclusive evidence that is confirmed by different sources and studies. This means that established risk factors have been linked to the development of breast cancer.
While risk factors are established by conclusive research, they cannot be seen as rules or guarantees. Even if you have several risk factors for breast cancer, this does not mean you will develop the disease. On the other hand, some women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors other than being a woman. This tells us that there’s much more to be discovered about breast cancer, its causes, and what we can do to reduce the risk.
Explore this section to learn more about:
• Understanding risk factors: What breast cancer statistics and risk factors mean for the individual woman
• Using risk assessment tools: An overview of what they are, when they are used, their strengths and limitations, and how they can inform decision-making about breast cancer risk
• Tips for how to assess health information on the Web
• Making sense of media reports and research studies about breast cancer, with an introduction to research terms and questions to ask to help you evaluate information about breast cancer
More Information
• Breast cancer risk factors