Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we will be highlighting several topics surrounding breast cancer throughout the month. Let’s get a jumpstart by talking today about the risk factors for breast cancer.

Though no one can assure you that you won’t get breast cancer, there are several risk factors that affect your chance of developing the disease. While some of these risk factors are out of your control, others are lifestyle risks. Today, let’s look at some of the risk factors for breast cancer.

Risk Factors You Cannot Change

Gender
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is about 100 times more common in women than in men. This is because women have more breast cells and because their cells are exposed to estrogen and progesterone.

Age
Though young women can get breast cancer, your risk increases as you get older. About two out of three invasive breast cancers are in women age 55 or older.

Genetic Mutations
Up to 10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be directly resulting from gene mutations inherited from a parent. The most common of those mutations are BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women with an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation have up to an 80% chance of developing breast cancer. Genetic testing can be done to look for these and other genetic mutations. Consult your doctor for more information.

Family History
A woman who has a first-degrees relative (mother, sister or daughter) with breast cancer has about double the risk of getting the disease compared to a women with no first-degree relatives with breast cancer. Your own personal history of breast cancer comes into play as well. Once you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you have three to four times the risk to get breast cancer in the other breast (or in a different location of the same breast).

Race
Caucasian women are slightly more likely to get breast cancer than are African-American women. However, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer because they oftentimes have more aggressive tumors. Studies have shown that Asian, Hispanic and Native-American women have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer.

Dense Breast Tissue and Certain Benign Breast Conditions
Women with denser breasts (more glandular tissue and less fatty tissue) have a higher risk of breast cancer. In addition, women with certain benign breast conditions may have an increase in risk. These benign conditions include non-proliferative lesions, along with proliferative lesions with and without atypia. You can learn more about these conditions at cancer.org.

More Menstrual Cycles
Women who start menstruating early (before age 12) or go through menopause late (after age 55) may have a slightly higher risk for breast cancer.

Also women who have received chest radiation therapy or diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure may also have a higher risk.

Lifestyle Related Risk Factors

Not Having Children (or having children late in life)
Women who have not had a child until after age 30 (or not at all) have a slightly increased risk for breast cancer, in comparison to women who have given birth at a younger age.

Oral Contraceptive Use
Women using oral birth control pills have a slightly higher risk for breast cancer compared to women who have never used them. However, the risk seems to decrease when they stop using the pill.

Post-Menopausal Hormone Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy is often used to help relieve symptoms of menopause and prevent osteoporosis. Some studies have shown that long-term use of combined post-menopausal hormone therapy (progesterone and estrogen) may increase the risk of breast cancer. Extreme long-term use (more than 10 years) of estrogen therapy alone may also increase your risk.

Not Breastfeeding
Many doctors recommend continuing breastfeeding until your child is two years old because some research has shown that not breastfeeding increases your risk for breast cancer.

Alcohol Intake
Women who drink two to five drinks daily have about 1 1/2 times the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer than those who drink no alcohol.

Obesity and Lack of Exercise
Having excess fat tissue (particularly after menopause) may increase your breast cancer risk because of the increase in estrogen. Daily exercise and a healthy diet are always your best bet. The American Cancer Society recommends 45 to 60 minutes of intentional physical activity five or more days a week. Some studies have shown that even walking a few hours a week reduces a woman’s risk significantly.

Other Factors

You have probably heard about a variety of other breast cancer risks, including high-fat diet, tobacco smoke and many more. Some of these factors are controversial. Talk to your doctor about these other possible risks.

Do a self breast exam monthly and be sure to go in for your annual check-up. Annual mammograms are recommended for all woman over age 40, and any women in a high risk situation.