Top Videos

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

  • Age: As the individual age, the risk of getting breast cancer also increases. Many of the cases of breast cancer has been seen in those individuals who are above the age of 50 years. It has been seen that only ten to fifteen percent of breast cancer cases have occurred in women who were younger than 45 years. But again, the numbers can vary based on the race or the ethnicity of the women. Breast cancer is also seen as a common occurrence in females even though men can be at a risk of this disease.
  • Genetic mutations: Those women who have an inherited genetic variation for certain genes such as BRCA1 and the BRCA2 are said to be at a greater risk of getting breast cancer.  Few of the other rare mutations are also known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer in women. By carrying out gene testing it would help to reveal the presence of any potential genetic issue mostly in families which have a history of developing breast cancer.
  • Early menstrual cycle: Those women who started their monthly period cycle when they were below the age of 12 years are also said to be exposed to hormones for longer thereby exposing them to an increased risk of getting breast cancer.
  • Late pregnancy or no pregnancy:  Those women who had their first pregnancy after attaining the age of 30 years and also those who did not have a full-term pregnancy are said to be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. But breastfeeding can help to lower this risk.
  • Starting the menopause after attaining age of 55 years: Similar to those who started their periods early, those women who are exposed to estrogen hormone for longer duration happening later in their life are also said to be at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. This increase in the risk can be mostly due to a longer life span exposure to the two hormones estrogen and progesterone.
  • No form of physical activity: Those women who are not active physically are also said to be very much vulnerable to developing breast cancer. Hence it is said that physical activity in any form or in the form of exercises should be carried out for a period of four to seven hours in a week’s time so as to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
  • Overweight after menopause: Elderly women who are obese or tend to gain weight rapidly after their menopause are also said to be prone to developing breast cancer than those women who have a normal weight. Post the menopause the fat tissues start to contribute in the increase of the estrogen levels which in turn also increases the risk of breast cancer. Gaining weight during adulthood and also the excess body fat which occurs around the waist is also known to be playing an important role in developing breast cancer for such women.
  • Presence of dense breasts: Dense breasts women are also known to be at a higher risk of getting breast cancer. Dense breasts are said to be composed of more connective tissues thereby making them quite vulnerable. Those women who have less of fatty tissues and instead have more of the glandular or fibrous tissues are also said to be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than those women who have less dense breasts.
  • Having a family history of breast cancer: It has been seen that those women who have a family history of developing breast cancer are also very much likely to get this medical condition. Mostly women with a mother, daughter or sister who had or who has breast cancer are at double the risk of developing this condition.
  • Use of oral contraceptive pills: Use of certain birth control medications have been also linked with an increase in those women developing the risk of getting breast cancer. Those women who have been using oral contraceptive pills in the past ten years are said to be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. But this risk can be reduced over time once the pills have been approved.

Apart from the ones mentioned above, heavy drinking, being exposed to radiation, combined post-menopausal hormone therapy are also said to be linked with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.