According to studies, several factors increase your chances of getting breast cancer. The two biggest risk-influencing factors are being a woman and becoming older. Women 50 years of age or older are the ones most likely to develop breast cancer.
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Even if a woman is unaware of any other risk factors, she may still develop breast cancer. Not all risk factors have the same effects and having one does not guarantee that you will develop the disease. Although many women have certain risk factors, breast cancer seldom affects them. If you have breast cancer risk factors, discuss with your doctor breast cancer screening options and ways to reduce your risk.
Unchangeable Risk Factors Age factor.
Age raises the risk of breast cancer.
After age 50, most breast cancer cases are discovered.
Mutations in the genome. Breast and ovarian cancer risk are increased in women who have hereditary changes (mutations) to specific genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.
pregnancy history. Women are exposed to hormones for a longer amount of time when menstruating before age 12 and beginning menopause after age 55, which increases their risk of developing breast cancer.
Ovarian or breast cancer in the family history.
If a woman has a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) or numerous family members on either her mother's or father's side of the family who has had breast or ovarian cancer, her risk of developing breast cancer increases. A woman's risk is increased if she has a first-degree male relative who has breast cancer.
Previous radiation therapy treatment.
Breast cancer is more likely to develop in women during their lives if they received radiation therapy to the chest or breasts before age 30 (for instance, as part of treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma).
Being dense-breasted. As connective tissue predominates over fatty tissue in dense breasts, tumors may occasionally be difficult to detect on mammograms. Breast cancer is more likely to affect women who have thick breasts.
Personal experience with breast cancer or non-cancerous breast conditions.
Breast cancer is more likely to recur in women who have already had it. Breast cancer risk is elevated in several non-cancerous breast conditions such as atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ.
Risk Factors that could be changed.
Physically inactive.
A woman's risk of developing breast cancer is increased if she is not physically active.
Obesity or being overweight after menopause.
Compared to older women who are at a healthy weight, those who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Using hormones.
When used for longer than five years, certain hormone replacement therapies (those that contain both progesterone and estrogen) used during menopause may increase the risk of breast cancer. It has also been discovered that some oral contraceptives (birth control tablets) increase the risk of breast cancer.
Taking the drug.
As according to studies, a woman's risk of developing breast cancer rises as her alcohol consumption increases.
Reproductive background.
Breast cancer risk can be increased by never having a full-term pregnancy, being pregnant for the first time beyond the age of 30, and not breastfeeding.