Causes of Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

• Age: Although a person can develop breast cancer at any age, a woman's risk of developing breast cancer increases as she ages. For example, at age 30 a woman has a one in 280 chance of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years. By the age of 40 this chance increases to one in 70. At 60, a woman has a one in 30 chance of developing breast cancer.
  
• Diet: Women who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer. Reducing your daily calories from fat to less than 20 percent or 30 percent can help cut your risk of developing breast cancer.
  
  Also, excessive alcohol consumption can increase a woman's chance of developing the disease. Drinking even one alcoholic drink per day increases a woman's risk for breast cancer.
  
• Family History: A woman whose mother, sister or grandmother has or has had breast cancer is two to three times more likely to develop breast cancer.
  
  The two genes that predispose a woman to familial breast cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2. However, a woman who has these genes might never develop breast cancer and a woman who doesn't have these genes can still develop the disease.
  
• Gender: Women are much more likely than men to develop breast cancer.
  
• Hormones: Researchers believes that the greater a woman's exposure to estrogen, the higher her risk of breast cancer. Thus, women are at a greater risk for developing breast cancer if they:
  
• begin menstruating before age 11
• have menstrual cycles that are shorter or longer than the average 26 to 29 days
• have their first child after the age of 30
• stop menstruating after age 55.
  
• Lifestyle: Not getting regular exercise can increase a woman's risk for breast cancer. Studies have shown that women who exercise on a regular basis are less likely to develop cancer.
  
• Medical History: A woman who has had breast cancer is at a greater risk of developing the disease again.
  
• Race: In the United States, Caucasian women are slightly more likely than African American women to develop breast cancer.
  
• Radiation Therapy: Women who receive heavy doses of radiation therapy are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, though only after a long delay.

What Doesn't Cause Breast Cancer?

• Abortions: There is no credible evidence that having an abortion increases your risk of developing breast cancer.
  
• Birth Control Pills: There is some debate as to whether birth control pills reduce or increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. However, studies have not shown a definite link between oral contraceptives and breast cancer.
  
• Fibrocystic Breasts: Fibrocystic breasts are lumpy, dense tissue and are often associated with breast pain, especially right before a woman gets her period. Having fibrocystic breasts does not place a woman at a greater risk for developing breast cancer.