Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BackgroundBreast cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia with one in seven women diagnosed in their lifetime, and one in 53 dying by age 85 years.Breast cancer screening is a vital tool in early detection but does not prevent cancer. ObjectiveThis article provides general practitioners (GPs) with evidence-based strategies for breast cancer prevention.It outlines breast cancer risk factors, personalised risk assessment tools, and the role of lifestyle modification, risk-reducing medication and risk-reducing surgery.Resources are included to assist GPs to educate, empower and support women to access prevention information. DiscussionPopulation-level prevention targets modifiable risk factors, including obesity, alcohol use and physical inactivity.However, individual risk varies widely due to genetic and non-genetic factors, requiring a personalised approach.GPs play a key role in helping women understand their risk and make informed decisions about prevention options, aligned with their values.BREAST CANCER is the most diagnosed cancer in Australian women, including in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths.1,2 Over 21,000 new breast cancer cases was predicted in 2024, with a growing incidence, including a 10% rise in people aged under 50 in the last 20 years.1,2 These statistics highlight the urgent need for prevention strategies.3 There are two complementary approaches to breast cancer prevention: population-level interventions aimed at minimising risk factors for all individuals; and identification of women with higher-than-average risk of breast cancer to offer personalised prevention interventions. 3 General practitioners (GPs) play an essential role in cancer prevention and early detection. 4,,5 Australian research identified that 43.4% of cancer research priorities for primary care focus on prevention and early detection, particularly interventions targeting prevention strategies for breast, ovarian and colorectal cancer, as well as personal risk communication.6 The Australian Cancer Plan, 7 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Plan 8 and the Optimal care pathway for people with breast cancer 9 support the need to proactively reduce cancer risk and for all Australians to be able to access personalised, evidence-based cancer prevention and early detection strategies.Figure 1 demonstrates Step 1 in the Optimal care pathway for people with breast cancer.9Breast awareness includes risk-factor awareness Breast awareness -familiarity with the normal look and feel of one's breasts -remains important for early detection, and women are recommended to promptly report any new or unusual change to their GP. 10 While this has no impact on prevention, it provides an opportunity for GPs to educate women about risk factors for breast cancer and encourage risk assessment.The strongest predictors of breast cancer risk are being female and increasing age, with more than 75% of cases occurring in women aged over 50.11 At least 5% of breast cancers are attributed to inherited An update on breast cancer prevention
Author: Sandy Minck
Language: English
Topic: Cancer Risks and Factors
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4410105874