Reduce your risk of breast cancer

It’s possible to manage some of the risk factors to lower your chance of developing breast cancer.

Aim for a healthy weight

Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for breast cancer. Work towards a healthy weight to reduce your risk.

See your GP if you’re unsure where to start. They may refer you to a dietitian or exercise physiologist for advice and management.

Be active 

Studies have shown that regular exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer. Moderate activity, like a brisk walk, can be enough to reduce your risk.

Cancer Australia suggests you aim to:

• do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days (2.5 to 5 hours per week)
• do exercises to make your muscles stronger (2 days a week)
• reduce your inactive (‘sedentary’) habits, such as watching television. 

Read the Australian Government’s physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians.

Eat well

The link between diet and breast cancer is not clear, but a healthy diet may help to reduce your overall risk of cancer.

Find guidelines on the Eat for Health website.

Reduce your alcohol intake

Regularly drinking beer, wine and spirits increases your risk of breast cancer. The more you drink, the greater the risk.

Australian guidelines recommend no more than 10 standard drinks a week (maximum 4 in a day) to reduce overall harm. Studies suggest that even 1 standard drink per day increases breast cancer risk.

Tips for reducing alcohol include:

• set limits for yourself and stick to them 
• start with a non-alcoholic drink and alternate with an alcoholic drink 
• drink slowly
• try drinks with a lower alcohol content 
• have days off from drinking each week. 

For more information see the Australian Government’s guide How much alcohol is safe to drink?.

Quit or reduce smoking

If you don't smoke, don't start.

If you do smoke, you may find it’s a hard habit to break, but help is available. Visit Quitline or call them on 13 78 48.

Your GP can also help with strategies and referrals. 

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)/hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Taking HRT containing both oestrogen and progesterone slightly increases your risk of developing breast cancer.

This risk increases the longer you take it. Once you stop, the risk decreases. Research on the risk of oestrogen-only HRT is conflicting.

Talk to your doctor about ways to manage menopausal symptoms.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding for longer can lower breast cancer risk. If you're able to breastfeed, Australian guidelines suggest breastfeeding for 12 months or longer. 

Medication

If your risk is very high, your doctor may consider medication such as tamoxifen. This drug has shown some benefits in reducing breast cancer risk.

Surgery

Some people with a very high inherited risk consider risk-reducing surgery. This is called preventative mastectomy or ‘prophylactic mastectomy’.

Preventative mastectomy can reduce a person’s risk of getting breast cancer by around 95%.

You may find it helpful to read about mastectomy surgery, although this page is written for people who have a breast cancer diagnosis.  

Read about BCNA’s efforts to improve access to risk-reducing mastectomy.