"Age, or getting older, is the single greatest risk for getting diagnosed with breast cancer," says women's health expert [Link Removed], M.D.

In fact, while a 30-year-old woman has a one in 227 chance of developing breast cancer during the next 10 years, a 60-year-old woman has a one in 28 chance, according to the [Link Removed].

Want to keep your breast cancer risk from mounting into menopause (show of hands, please)?

First, you need to learn the connection between your age, reproductive health, menopause, and breast cancer:

How Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Affect the Risk of Breast Cancer?

Before you let the headlines scare you, remember that not all forms of HRT are created equal, says menopause specialist Dr. Josh Trutt, MD, a healthy aging expert from PhysioAge Medical Group in New York City. Bioidentical hormones are associated with a [Link Removed], the average woman believes that breast cancer is the number one killer of women, leading to 39 percent of all deaths among women. However, heart disease is the true leading killer, contributing to 45 percent of all deaths among women. Breast cancer only leads to 4 percent.

How Does Hysterectomy Affect the Risk of Breast Cancer?

 Here's your silver lining: "Surgical menopause actually slightly lowers a woman's risk for breast cancer. The basis for this lowered risk is not well understood, but it is one of the good-news aspects of the upsetting situation many women feel when they have to give up their uterus due to pain, diseases like severe endometriosis, or abnormal precancerous or cancerous growths," Dr. Pollycove says. What's more, one 2011 [Link Removed] from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles shows that removal of one or both ovaries is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer.

What Is the Breast Cancer Survival Rate Among Menopausal Women?

"The older a woman is when diagnosed, the less likely she is to have a life-threatening cell type of breast cancer," Dr. Pollycove says. Women with non-invasive cancers of the breast (which are the most common in women who undergo regular screenings) have a survival rate of 93 percent, according to the [Link Removed]. The key here, however, is early detection. (More on that next!)

How Often Should I Be Screened for Breast Cancer?

"The most important thing women can do to lower their chance of having their quality of life or lifespan affected by breast cancer is to get regular mammograms and at least an annual clinical breast exam by a provider," says Dr. Pollycove. To confuse things, however, in 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued new [Link Removed] shows that half of all breast cancer deaths occur in women under the age of 50--most of who have never had a mammogram prior to diagnosis. Also, up to 25 percent of invasive breast cancers are found during self-exams, according to Dr. Pollycove.

What Breast Cancer Risk Factors Are Out of My Control?

While a family history of breast cancer or mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can be scary, knowing--and communicating to your doctor--your inherited, "not-going-anywhere," risk factors is important in determining the right prevention plan for you, Dr. Pollycove says. Other risk factors include dense breast tissues and previous benign breast conditions such as hyperplasia of ductal or lobular tissue, cysts, and [Link Removed]. Pregnancy and breastfeeding may influence cancer risk by altering hormone exposure to the breast tissues.

What Lifestyle Factors In Menopause Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer?

Anything that's bad for your health is bad for your breasts. Some examples: smoking, being overweight or gaining weight at mid-life, living a sedentary or stressful lifestyle, eating a diet high in saturated fat, drinking more than seven to 10 alcoholic drinks per week, and eating few fruits and vegetables, says Dr. Pollycove. Her prevention prescription: Perform aerobic exercise for at least 20 minutes a day. That alone can cut your risk of breast cancer in half, she says. While you're at it, check out these five ways to [Link Removed].

What Kinds of HRT Options Are Available for a Breast Cancer Survivor?

"All sorts of well-tolerated and easy-to-use therapies are available in the U.S. for breast cancer survivors. In a nutshell, local-only vaginal therapies are appropriate for virtually every woman who has bothersome symptoms and can be safely prescribed," says Dr. Pollycove, who notes that it's always best to have an oncologist or a [Link Removed] review the particulars of your previous diagnosis before you fill any scripts.

Sisters, it's time to show our breasts the care they deserve. So this [Link Removed], let's celebrate with both hormone and breast happiness!

Reaching out is IN! Suffering in silence is OUT!

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