When should women begin screening for breast cancer, and why could delayed initial screening result in a higher longer-term risk of cancer death? At this rate, researchers estimate that by 2050, there will be 3.2 million new breast cancer cases and 1.1 million breast cancer-related deaths per year. Those with higher risk of breast cancer may be recommended for additional tests, such as genetic testing, breast MRI or ultrasound. CNN: For women who are concerned about their risk of breast cancer, are there steps they can take to reduce their risk? Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption and keeping a healthy weight will help to reduce the risk of breast cancer.