Breast Cancer: Risk Factors
There is no exact cause of breast cancer, but there are certain risk factors that may increase your chances of getting breast cancer. These risk factors fall into three categories: Risk factors that can't be changed, like genetic predisposition; behavioral and lifestyle decisions, like choosing to consume alcohol; uncertain risks, which include factors that are still under study or inconclusive, like how the environment effects breast cancer rates.
Common risk factors that can't be changed include:
- Age-chance of cancer increases as women age, and most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 60
- Family health history-if anyone has had cancer in your family, especially if it was diagnosed before age 50, there is a greater chance of your having cancer too
- Personal health history-whether you've had cancer before
- Some genetic changes-these include changes in chromosomes brought on by undetermined factors
- Radiation therapy to the chest-especially if you've had it before age 30
- Menstrual history-women who get their period before age 12 or have late menopause, after age 55, or take menopausal hormone therapy are all at greater risk for developing breast cancer
- Race-statistics show Caucasian (white) women are at greater risk for developing breast cancer
- Breast density-having more glandular tissue and less fatty tissue in the breast
- Treatment with DES
Some behavioral or lifestyle decisions are:
- Reproductive history-older first-time moms and women who have never had children are at a slightly greater risk
- Overweight or obese after menopause-studies are inconclusive about whether obesity before menopause contributes to the likelihood of getting breast cancer
- Alcohol consumption-2 or more drinks per day is considered a risk
- Birth control pills-a temporary increase in risk while using them
- Exercise-The American Cancer Society suggests exercising for 45-60 minutes 5 or more days a week, however other studies show that 1¼ to 2½ hours of brisk walking per week reduced the risk of breast cancer by 18%
- Not breast-feeding-studies show that breast-feeding is beneficial, especially if it is done for 2 years
- Diet
- Antiperspirants
- Bras
- Abortions
- Breast implants
- Environmental pollution
- Smoking
- Working at night
Photo source euthman