CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Breast cancer - managing family history - Management
What advice can I give regarding risk reduction and lifestyle?
- Recommend breast awareness to all women.
- Explain the principles of breast awareness. This is a process whereby the woman becomes familiar with her own breasts by looking and feeling and reporting promptly any changes. Changes could include: discomfort or pain; lumps, thickening, or bumpy areas; nipple changes or discharge; or changes in the appearance of the breast, such as in the shape or the presence of dimpling of the skin.
- For more information, see the NHS Cancer Screening Programme information on Breast awareness (pdf).
- Encourage attendance at the local breast-screening programme for women 50 years of age and older. From 2012 the NHS breast screening programme will be extended to cover women 47–73 years of age. Women who are older than the eligible age range will still be able to self-refer, as at present.
- Discuss known (potentially modifiable) risk factors for breast cancer.
- An increased risk of breast cancer is associated with:
- Alcohol consumption.
- Being postmenopausal and overweight.
- Older age of first birth.
- A reduced risk of breast cancer is associated with:
- Moderate physical activity.
- Breastfeeding.
- Increased number of births.
- Smoking is not thought to be a risk factor for breast cancer, but smokers should be encouraged to quit because of the other health benefits (for further information see the CKS topic on Smoking cessation).
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement