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| Breast Cancer Risk Factors |
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 Breast cancer forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare. In This Article: Facts About Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Risk Factors Breast Cancer Myths Can Breast Cancer Risk Factors Be Avoided? According to the National Cancer Institute, In the United States, breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Each year, a small number of men are also diagnosed with or die from breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer is highest in whites, but African Americans have higher mortality rates than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. Risk Factors For Breast Cancer No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors often cannot explain why one woman develops breast cancer and another does not. They do know that:
Research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of developing a disease. Studies have found the following risk factors for breast cancer: Age Personal history of breast cancer Family history Certain breast changes Gene changes Reproductive and menstrual history Race Radiation therapy to the chest Breast density Taking DES (diethylstilbestrol) Being overweight or obese after menopause Lack of physical activity Drinking alcohol 1. Age The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. Most cases of breast cancer occur in women over 60. This disease is not common before menopause. 2. Personal history of breast cancer A woman who had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting cancer in her other breast. 3. Family history A woman's risk of breast cancer is higher if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer. The risk is higher if her family member got breast cancer before age 40. Having other relatives with breast cancer (in either her mother's or father's family) may also increase a woman's risk. 4. Certain breast changes Some women have cells in the breast that look abnormal under a microscope. Having certain types of abnormal cells (atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ [LCIS]) increases the risk of breast cancer. 5. Gene changes Changes in certain genes increase the risk of breast cancer. These genes include BRCA1, BRCA2, and others. Tests can sometimes show the presence of specific gene changes in families with many women who have had breast cancer. Health care providers may suggest ways to try to reduce the risk of breast cancer, or to improve the detection of this disease in women who have these changes in their genes. 6. Reproductive and menstrual history
Breast cancer is diagnosed more often in white women than Latina, Asian, or African American women. 8. Radiation therapy to the chest Women who had radiation therapy to the chest (including breasts) before age 30 are at an increased risk of breast cancer. This includes women treated with radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Studies show that the younger a woman was when she received radiation treatment, the higher her risk of breast cancer later in life. 9. Breast density Breast tissue may be dense or fatty. Older women whose mammograms (breast x-rays) show more dense tissue are at increased risk of breast cancer. 10. Taking DES (diethylstilbestrol) DES was given to some pregnant women in the United States between about 1940 and 1971. (It is no longer given to pregnant women.) Women who took DES during pregnancy may have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. The possible effects on their daughters are under study. 11. Being overweight or obese after menopause The chance of getting breast cancer after menopause is higher in women who are overweight or obese. 12. Lack of physical activity Women who are physically inactive throughout life may have an increased risk of breast cancer. Being active may help reduce risk by preventing weight gain and obesity. 13. Drinking alcohol Studies suggest that the more alcohol a woman drinks, the greater her risk of breast cancer. Other possible risk factors are under study. Researchers are studying the effect of diet, physical activity, and genetics on breast cancer risk. They are also studying whether certain substances in the environment can increase the risk of breast cancer. Can breast cancer risk factors be avoided? Many risk factors can be avoided. Others, such as family history, cannot be avoided. Women can help protect themselves by staying away from known risk factors whenever possible. But it is also important to keep in mind that most women who have known risk factors do not get breast cancer. Also, most women with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease. In fact, except for growing older, most women with breast cancer have no clear risk factors. If you think you may be at risk for breast cancer you should discuss this concern with your doctor. Your doctor may be able to suggest ways to reduce your risk and can plan a schedule for checkups. To know more about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and how to diagnose it, read Breast Cancer Symptoms and Diagnosis. Related Articles:
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