Little-Known Breast Cancer Risk Factor

As Diahann Carroll Attests, Merely Being Over 50 Ups Woman's Odds

(CBS)  Most women don’t realize that a big risk factor for breast cancer is age.

Veteran actress Diahann Carroll, star of TV hits "Dynasty" and "Julia," among others, and an Oscar nominee, is also a breast cancer survivor.

She says she was shocked when she was diagnosed with the disease at age 63. Carroll didn't have a family history of breast cancer, and was more focused on preventing diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Carroll is going public with her story, launching Strength in Knowing: The Facts and Fiction of Breast Cancer Risk, sponsored by the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) and Eli Lilly and Company.

The campaign is designed to educate postmenopausal women about breast cancer risk factors to help them better assess their own risk level, and have a dialogue with their health care provider about screenings and early detection.

On The Early Show Monday, Carroll shared her personal story of survival and encouraged women to take control of their breast health. To watch the segment, click here.

A new Harris Interactive survey of nearly 2,000 women reveals that only 37 percent of women 55 or older are concerned about developing breast cancer as they age.

The findings also show that three out of every four women don't know that being over 50 is the greatest risk for developing breast cancer. In fact, most women believe that the greatest risk factors are having a family member with the disease and inherited genetic mutations.

For information on breast health, tips on how to talk to a healthcare professional about risk factors for breast cancer, and the latest news and trends related to breast cancer risk reduction, go to www.strengthinknowing.com.