Although certain genetic factors may not be preventable, there
are other precautions you can take to decrease your risk of
developing breast cancer . If you have a strong family history
of breast cancer, talk to your doctor about whether you should
be tested for the breast and ovarian cancer gene mutation (BRCA1
and BRCA2). Women who carry this gene are at very high risk for
developing breast and ovarian cancers and should be followed
closely. If you do have these risk factors, you may want to talk
to your doctor about the possibility of having a mastectomy
before cancer develops. General precautions you can take to
reduce your risk of developing breast cancer include: Talk to
Your Doctor About Screenings Talk to your doctor about the best
screening schedule for you. Breast cancer screenings include:
Limit Exposure to Estrogen When Possible High levels of estrogen
have been linked to the development of breast cancer. For older
women, the greatest exposure to estrogen is via postmenopausal
hormone replacement