Breast

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Australian women after lung cancer and the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women. It also occurs in men, though in much smaller numbers.

While the main risk factor is ageing, with incidence increasing steadily as women age, the risk of developing breast cancer can be reduced through a healthy lifestyle - limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight (particularly for post-menopausal women), being physically active and eating a balanced diet.

A summary of the evidence on primary prevention of breast cancer is included in the breast cancer chapter of our National Cancer Prevention Policy.

Detailed evidence-based policy on reducing the individual behavioural risk factors associated with breast cancer is available in the:

• overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and nutrition chapter of the National Cancer Prevention Policy and related position statements;
• alcohol and cancer chapter of the National Cancer Prevention Policy and related position statements;
• breast cancer position statements.

Evidence shows that breast cancer mortality can also be reduced through population screening using mammography. Detailed information is available in the breast cancer chapter of our National Cancer Prevention Policy.

A more comprehensive suite of policy information is available from the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, which is part of the Government's Cancer Australia agency.

Sources: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Cancer Incidence and Mortality Books; National Cancer Prevention Policy, Cancer Council Australia.