Breast cancer is a very real concern for more and more men and women.  That's right, both men and women can get breast cancer, though it is commonly associated with just women.  Certain environmental risk factors put both men and women at a higher risk of getting breast cancer.  When you put those environmental risk factors together with some biological risk factors, you have an even better chance of getting breast cancer at some point in your life.

Of course, exposure to environmental risk factors does not seal your breast cancer fate, but it does mean that you should pay close attention to your body.  Men and women that have had some environmental exposures that would put them at a higher risk of getting breast cancer should have yearly physicals and should perform breast inspections regularly.  Both men and women can learn how to check themselves monthly so that if anything happens to come up it can be caught as soon as possible.

Some of the most common environmental risk factors that have been associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer are exposure to certain chemicals, a poor diet, an unhealthy lifestyle, long term exposure to estrogen or progesterone, excessive consumption of alcohol, and high levels of exposure to radiation early on in life.  Again, it's important to know that just because you have experienced one of these things does not mean that you will definitely develop breast cancer, but it does mean that you should be very in tune with your body.  Individuals that have been exposed to or have experienced environmental risk factors should also be straight forward with their doctors, so that they can also be as careful as possible.

Of course, biological risk factors should be considered, as well.  Biological risk factors include a family history of breast cancer, whether the victims of breast cancer were male or female.  Other biological factors include age, as more men and women develop breast cancer later in life, as well as never breast feeding for women, also having children late in life seems to put women at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Awareness about the risks associated with breast cancer can help people live lives that will not lend themselves to the development of cancer at all.  Or, at the very least it will foster communication between family members so that there is an open line of communication as well as an understanding about the history of breast cancer in the family.

Knowing if you have experienced or have been exposed to any environmental risk factors as well as knowing your biological risks will help you gauge how careful you need to be with breast exams.  Of course, everyone should take care when performing a breast examine, but the more risk factors you have the more diligent you should be about speaking with your doctor, performing self breast exams, and being in touch with your body.

Breast cancer can devastate lives and families, but it doesn't have to end lives.  The more diligent people are to examine risk factors, the earlier breast cancer can be caught so that it doesn't have to end a life.  Know your risk factors to stay healthy, and be open to talking with your family members about those risks, as well.