Breast cancer is the second-most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States today (skin cancer is first). This year, 182,800 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,800 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Even though breast cancer is more common in older women, it also occurs in younger women and even in a small number of men.

Risk factors

Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. Although some women are identified as having an increased risk of contracting breast cancer, more than 70 percent of cases occur in women who have no identifiable risk factors. A woman's risk of breast cancer increases:

with age

if a family history of breast cancer exists

if a woman has never had children or had her first child after age 30

if a woman is 45 or older and has 75 percent or more dense breast tissue.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has issued a breast cancer risk assessment tool to help women assess their individual risk. Some experts caution that the program omits some essential questions which may underestimate a woman's risk, but researchers say the tool can provide a reasonable estimate of a woman's chances of contracting breast cancer. It can be obtained by calling 1-800-4-CANCER or on the Web at (http://bcra.nci.nih.gov/brc/). The institute recommends that women go over their results with a doctor.

Steps to take

Whether your risk of breast cancer is average or higher, there are some steps you can take:

Get regular breast exams by a doctor or nurse and ask your doctor when you should begin getting regular mammograms.

Exercise and eat a balanced diet that provides a good variety of nutrients and plenty of fiber. Limit dietary fat and alcohol.

Consult your doctor about your personal situation, and carefully weigh any potential risks against the benefits in making decisions about hormone-containing drugs.