Which of the following women is at the highest risk for breast cancer?

Question

a. 50-year-old woman who is obese and has Down syndrome
b. 25-year-old woman with a malignant melanoma of the face
c. 40-year-old woman who had thoracic radiation therapy 10 years ago for Hodgkin's disease
d. 72-year-old woman who smokes and has a BMI of 21

Answer 1

C
The woman at highest risk for breast cancer is the 40 year old who had prior thoracic radiation for Hodgkin's disease. Although her age (40) does not put her at the highest risk (over 50), having had previous radiation to the thoracic area does. The 50-year-old woman who is obese is at risk for breast cancer; however, she does not have any of the hereditary breast cancer syndromes. She has Down syndrome which lowers her risk. The 25 year old is at low risk for breast cancer because the incidence of breast cancer in women under 25 years of age is very low. Having melanoma is not a risk factor; a personal history of breast cancer is a risk factor. The 72-year-old woman is at risk because of her age. Increasing age increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Smoking is also a risk factor. However, with a BMI of 21 she is not obese. Normal BMI is 20 to 24.9 . Individuals with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered obese. Being of normal weight lowers her risk.