Home » Health & Wellness » Breast Cancer » Risk Factors of Breast Cancer

Risk Factors of Breast Cancer

© Bobbi Jones

In many regards, a discussion of the risk factors for breast cancer is a bit misleading, and can give many women a false sense of security. Of the cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year, 70% of the patients have none of the risk factors. And with respect to the most common risk factor--family history of breast cancer--80% of the diagnosed patients have no family history of breast cancer. The important thing to remember is that having no risk factors should not give you a false sense of security. Women with one or more risk factors should be alert to cancer warning signs, but studies show that most women with risk factors do not get breast cancer. Many women who do get breast cancer have none of the risk factors, other than aging.

From all of the information I have looked at and will list later on, I have come to the personal conclusion that you cannot go by risk factors to determine whether or not you are susceptible to getting breast cancer. You can have it without risk factors or you can have all the risk factors and still not have cancer.

The medical field is constantly coming up with reasons for women developing breast cancer. And sometimes those reasons change the next week. "New report: they have now found smelling flowers could be a cause of cancer," states the journalist. One week later, "Last week I informed you that smelling flowers could be one of the causes of cancer. Well, new studies show that in fact smelling flowers can be good for you." Will we really ever know the actual causes, for sure, of cancer and many other devastating diseases?

Being a breast cancer survivor, I can tell you this. Once I was diagnosed with breast cancer I wanted to know how. I still can't tell you for sure what caused my breast cancer. I'm not sure many women can tell you.

Risk Factors

 Age (over 40) your chances increase

 Genetic (having the mutated gene BRCA1 or BRCA2

 Family History (close 1st degree relations like mother, sister, daughter)

 Personal History (previously had breast cancer)

 Race (white women are more likely)

 Previous chest/breast irradiation (radiation)

 Early menstrual periods (before 12 years of age)

 Late Menopause (after age 50)

 Not having children before the age of 30

 Using Estrogen replacement therapy (typically applies to those currently using the hormonal therapy, risks decrease after stopping and become risk free after being off for five years)

The copyright of the article Risk Factors of Breast Cancer in Breast Cancer is owned by Bobbi Jones. Permission to republish Risk Factors of Breast Cancer in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.