DeKALB | One out of every eight women is at risk for developing breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer is also the most common cancer for women.

Eating right, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, limiting alcohol and knowing one’s family history can help prevent breast cancer.

“Physical activity may help lower your risk from breast cancer,” said Bonnie Dziedzic, spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. “Exercise reduces estrogen levels, fights obesity, lowers insulin levels and boosts the function of immune system cells that attack tumors.”

In addition to causing many other diseases and cancers, alcohol also can greatly affect one’s risk of breast cancer.

“Numerous studies have shown that high levels of alcohol intake probably increase the risk of breast cancer,” Dziedzic said. “If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation — less than one drink a day.”

Obesity, a problem in itself, also can contribute to breast cancer.

“The effect of adult weight on the risk of breast cancer is different among pre- and post-menopausal women,” Dziedzic said. “Before menopause, it appears being somewhat overweight decreases a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer. After menopause, being overweight increases the risk of the disease.”

In 2006, 9,000 women and 70 men in Illinois will have breast cancer; of these, 2,000 women and 20 men will die, said Jan Costello, acting deputy director of women’s health for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

About 10,000 women under the age of 40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and about 1,000 will be between 20 and 30 years of age.

“Early detection is the key to survival,” Costello said. “There is a 96 percent survival rate if detected early.”

Getting regular mammograms is the most important thing to do Costello said, in addition to performing self-exams and getting clinical breast exams.

“You can stay healthy by getting screened,” she said. “We always encourage women to be proactive about their health.”

Risk factors include family or personal history of breast cancer, history of certain types of benign breast disease and lifetime exposure to estrogen.

Genetics cases are only five to 10 percent of breast cancer cases, said Kelly Happe, assistant professor of communication and an extensive breast cancer researcher.

“50 percent of cases are unexplained,” Happe said, meaning the woman does not have a family history of breast cancer, and she has been proactive about her health.

Happe believes environmental factors should be given as much clout in the debate as genetics in determining the causes of breast cancer.

“We always talk about lifestyle and genetics, but we need to balance it with environmental factors.”

Radiation is an obvious contributor to any kind of cancer; pesticides and hormones in foods can also add to a risk for breast cancer, Happe said.

“Numbers are up for all kinds of cancer,” Happe said. “We need to pay more attention to the outside factors.”