Age

The biggest single risk factor for breast cancer is age. The older a women gets, the greater is her likelihood of getting breast cancer. A women in her late 30s, for instance, has about a 1 in 257 chance of getting breast cancer. The risk increases exponentially after age 30,but even in women 80 years old, the risk of developing cancer is roughly 1 in 24.It means that, as women age, they need to be vigilant about watching for signs of changes in their breasts, because their risk has increased.

Personal History

Personal history includes women’s past medical history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine, or colon cancer. Women who have had any of these cancers previously stand a much greater chance of having a new cancer develop in their breast tissue. Breast cancer is also mildly related to the timing of normal physiological processes, such as menarche ( start of menstruation) and menopause (end of menstrual period).If a women’s menarche occurs prior to the age of 12,or if her menopause comes after the age of 55,or both, she stands slightly greater chance of developing breast cancer. Similarly, women who have had no pregnancies or whose first pregnancy occurred after age 30, are slightly at a greater risk than women who had pregnancy before this age. Breast feeding contributes to decreased cancer risk (the longer a women breast feeds, the lower her riskof breast cancer).

Family History

Many people believe that breast cancer is a disease that runs in families. Statistically speaking, this is not true. Over 80% of women who are diagnosed with cancer don’t have any family history of cancer. Nevertheless, women with a blood relative who has had breast cancer do have a greater risk, particularly if it’s a close relative (mother, sister, daughter).This is due to the fact that the cancer could have been caused by a mutation, or defective copy of gene, which might also have been inherited by her close relatives. Family history is significant if there are two or more close family members who have had breast and/or ovarian cancer, and if the breast cancer in the family members has been found before the age of 50.

Diet and physical Fitness

Women who are overweight or obese, particularly older women , also have a greater risk. Although there are no specific foods shown to increase one’s risk of breast cancer, numerous studies have shown that high levels of alcohol intake probably increase the risk of breast cancer. To decrease the risk for developing breast cancer, it is recommended that women consume a well-balanced diet rich in grains, fruits and vegetables, along with low consumption of fat and sugars and moderate consumption of meats, dairy products, eggs. Maintaining good physical fitness through exercise has been suggested as a potential way to lower cancer risk. Exercise reduces estrogen levels, fights obesity, lowers insulin levels, and boosts the immune system, all of which can aid in cancer prevention. There is some scientific evidence that women who have exercise regularly before menopause gain lifelong benefits against breast cancer, and a recent study showed that even moderate (four hours per week) exercise contributes to lower risk.

Oral contraceptive pills or hormone replacement therapy

Today, it is well known that the greater a women’s exposure to estrogen, the greater is her risk of developing breast cancer. A woman who starts menstruating early or goes through menopause late has a longer lifetime exposure to estrogen. A woman who hasn’t gone through childbirth or breast-feeding, both of which tend to suppress the menstrual cycle for extended periods of time, doesn’t get the risk lowering benefit of these events.
It is known that current or recent use of birth control pills (oral contraceptives) slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. Studies show that while women are taking birth control pills (and shortly after), they have a 20 to 30 percent higher risk of breast cancer than women who have never used the pill. Once women stop taking the pill, their risk begins to decrease and after about 10 years, returns to that of women who have never taken the pill.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause (Estrogen progesterone preparations) is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. The longer the HRT is used, the higher the risk. The risk returns to that of a woman who never used HRT (the usual risk) within 3 years of stopping the hormones. Taking HRT is also linked to increased breast density (as seen on a mammogram). Increased breast density can make it harder to find breast cancer on a mammogram.
Phytoestrogens are natural, estrogen-like compounds, or hormone active agents (HAAs), in plant foods, such as whole grains, seeds, fruits, and, particularly, soybeans. Although these HAAs have estrogenic activity; it is between 1/30 to 1/1000 as powerful as natural estrogen. It is thought that it is this low estrogenic activity that makes it protective against breast cancer. Current studies of the effects of phytoestrogens have shown conflicting results; while some indicate the possibility of increased risk, most seem to point toward a substantially decreased risk of breast cancer when women consume foods high in phytoestrogens. Studies to date are inconclusive, but anecdotal evidence regarding the low rates of breast cancer among Asian women, whose diets tend to be high in soy-based phytoestrogens, point to potential benefits. At the moment, it seems likely that phytoestrogens are not a major cause for concern.

Myths

It is important to know the difference between what is a genuine risk factor and what is a myth. It is not possible to get breast cancer from contact with a person who has it. Nor it is possible to get cancer from a bruise, bump, or similar injury. Having large or small breasts neither increases nor decreases the risk of cancer. Claims that antiperspirants and underwired bras cause breast cancer by blocking the flow of sweat have not been substantiated by any scientific evidence.