The next time you’re out shopping, look at the women around you. Can you tell which ones are likely to develop breast cancer?

It’s nearly impossible to know who’s at risk based on appearances, and most women couldn’t tell you what their personal risk levels are. However, you can learn about your own breast cancer risk at the UAB Breast Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment Clinic—and use that information to prevent, detect, or treat the disease early.

Risk differs from woman to woman, depending on family history, genes, and lifestyle choices, says Helen Krontiras, M.D., co-director of UAB’s Breast Health Center and the Lynne Cohen Prevention Program for Women’s Cancer. “Some women overestimate it, and some patients may underestimate it,” she says. “But we can give you an objective assessment of your short-term and long-term risk.”

The clinic blends the expertise of specialists with the power of innovative technology. “We use computer models to help identify women who are higher risk, and then we can look at family history to determine whether or not there is a genetic predisposition to breast cancer,” explains Dr. Krontiras. “We may suggest or recommend genetic testing for those patients.”

Some genetic factors can make you more likely to develop breast cancer. If a close family member—mother, sister, or daughter—or a male relative develops breast cancer, your chances increase. And a woman who has already had breast cancer is at an increased risk of developing it again. Still, Dr. Krontiras says, “only 10 percent of all breast cancer that is diagnosed is related to inherited susceptibility. Ninety percent is sporadic, meaning it just happens.”

Once she and her colleagues know your risk, Krontiras says they will discuss it with you and offer recommendations on what to do next. Some of those solutions may include lifestyle changes (see “An Ounce of Prevention” for more information) or medication that can help decrease the risk of developing the disease. Dr. Krontiras says that Tamoxifen may be an option for women in high-risk groups; the drug was originally prescribed to treat breast cancer but now is used for its preventive benefits. “There are some factors we can’t change,” adds Dr. Krontiras, “but there are things that can give you some power to help yourself.”