Researchers have found that there could be a link between certain physical characteristics and a woman's risk for breast cancer. These links appear to be related to the amount of androgens concentrated in a woman's body.
Androgens are male hormones, like testosterone.
A higher level of androgens causes characteristics like excess body hair, oily skin or an apple-shaped physique in which the waist is larger than the hips. Doctors will continue to study the link between androgens and breast cancer risk. Ultimately, doctors could know how important it to screen women with these characteristics more carefully, and if therapy to lower androgen levels could even help prevent cancer. This could take years, and not all breast cancers are related to this link. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say it's important for women to practice monthly self exams and to have regular mammograms according to their doctors' recommendations to reduce the incidence of breast cancer.