Do women in Marin have more risk factors for breast cancer?
A. There is a high prevalence of several known breast cancer risk factors in Marin. Compared to the average California population, women in Marin have more risk factors including higher socioeconomic status, later childbearing, fewer children, more frequent alcohol consumption, and higher levels of education. Based on this information, we would expect Marin County to have a somewhat higher breast cancer incidence rate than other geographic regions with fewer risk factors. The MWS is researching the impact of these established risk factors in Marin among women with breast cancer and among women without the disease.
