Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Boehringer Ingelheim


The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown; however, there are many risk factors associated with the condition – some already well established and some still being investigated. Risk factors include:
		1. A family history of breast cancer
		A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer doubles if she has a mother, sister or daughter who developed the disease under 50 years of age.¹

		2. Age
		81% of breast cancer cases occur in women age 50 and over.²1 out of 68 women are at risk of developing breast cancer by age 40.³
		3. Genetic risk factors
		Around 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary, resulting directly from gene mutations inherited from a parent.⁴

		4. Exposure of breast cancer cells to oestrogen
		Factors which relate to the lifetime exposure of breast tissue cells to oestrogen: early age at first menstruation, late onset of menopause, no children, late age at birth of first child, and the use of artificial hormones in contraception or hormone replacement therapy.⁵

		5. Lifestyle factors
		Including being overweight or obese after the menopause, physical inactivity, a high fat diet and alcohol consumption.⁶

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1. Garcia M et al. Global Cancer Facts & Figures. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society, 2007 2. Office for National Statistics, Cancer Statistics registrations: Registrations of cancer diagnosed in 2006, England. Series MB1 no.37. 2009, National Statistics, London 3. American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2005-2006 (Online) Available at http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@nho/documents/document/caff2005brfacspdf2005pdf.pdf (Last accessed April 2011) 4. American Cancer Society Breast Cancer (Online) Available at http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003090-pdf.pdf (Last accessed October 2011) 5. Clamp A et al. Hormonal and genetic risk factors for breast cancer. Department of Medical Oncology, Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Online) Available at http://www.rcsed.ac.uk/journal/svol1_1/10100004.html (Last Accessed July 2010) 6. Garcia M et al. Global Cancer Facts & Figures. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society, 2007