Primary prevention of breast cancer: state of the art in 2012

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women and the first cause of mortality linked to malignancies. In Belgium the mortality rate is 1 on 4 being amongst the highest across EU countries. Despite huge progress in screening and treatment, cancer remains a plague in the developed world. As a consequence urgent efforts are needed to foster primary prevention. All women should be encouraged to decrease alcohol consumption, to control body weight, to exercise, to avoid uncontrolled hormone treatments and to follow healthy lifestyle also reducing cardiovascular risk and diabetes. They should also be informed on the benefits of long lasting breastfeeding and early pregnancy. More accurate primary prevention allows defining for each woman her personal risk profile. Indeed undisputed progress has been made nowadays in identifying properly high risk women likely to benefit from tailored preventive intervention.