Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Health Information

Age: The risk for breast cancer increases with age.
Genetic mutations: Women who have inherited these genetic changes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Reproductive history: Menstrual periods staring before age 12 and experiencing menopause after age 55 expose women to hormones longer, increasing their risk for breast cancer.
Dense breasts: Women with dense breasts are at an increased risk for breast cancer since dense breasts can make it hard to see tumors on a mammogram.
Personal history of breast cancer or breast diseases: Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get breast cancer a second time. Some non-cancerous breast diseases are associated with a higher risk of getting breast cancer, including atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ.
Family history of breast cancer: A woman's risk for breast cancer increases if she has a mother, sister, daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on her mother's or father's side who have had breast cancer. Having a first-degree male relative with breast cancer also raises a woman's risk.
Previous treatment using radiation therapy: Women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts before age 30 have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.

Not being physically active: Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
Being overweight after menopause: Post-menopausal women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
Taking hormones: Some forms of hormone replacement therapy taken during menopause can increase a woman's risk for breast cancer when taken for more than five years. Additionally, specific oral contraceptives (birth control pills) also have been found to increase breast cancer risk.
Pregnancy history: If a woman has her first pregnancy after age 30, chooses not to breastfeed, and doesn't have a full-term pregnancy is at an increased risk of breast cancer.
Alcohol consumption: Studies show that a woman's risk for breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.

Age: The risk for breast cancer increases with age.
Genetic mutations: Women who have inherited these genetic changes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Reproductive history: Menstrual periods staring before age 12 and experiencing menopause after age 55 expose women to hormones longer, increasing their risk for breast cancer.
Dense breasts: Women with dense breasts are at an increased risk for breast cancer since dense breasts can make it hard to see tumors on a mammogram.
Personal history of breast cancer or breast diseases: Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get breast cancer a second time. Some non-cancerous breast diseases are associated with a higher risk of getting breast cancer, including atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ.
Family history of breast cancer: A woman's risk for breast cancer increases if she has a mother, sister, daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on her mother's or father's side who have had breast cancer. Having a first-degree male relative with breast cancer also raises a woman's risk.
Previous treatment using radiation therapy: Women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts before age 30 have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.

Not being physically active: Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
Being overweight after menopause: Post-menopausal women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
Taking hormones: Some forms of hormone replacement therapy taken during menopause can increase a woman's risk for breast cancer when taken for more than five years. Additionally, specific oral contraceptives (birth control pills) also have been found to increase breast cancer risk.
Pregnancy history: If a woman has her first pregnancy after age 30, chooses not to breastfeed, and doesn't have a full-term pregnancy is at an increased risk of breast cancer.
Alcohol consumption: Studies show that a woman's risk for breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.