Breast Cancer Risk Factors
There are many possible risk factors associated with breast health, these include a previous occurrence or a family history of a disease, smoking and taking combined hormone replacement therapy or HRT.
Many of the most important risk factors for breast cancer and other health problems are beyond your control, such as age, family history, and medical history. However, there are some risk factors you can control, such as weight, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. It is important to remember that having one or even several risk factors doesn't necessarily mean you'll develop cancer - most women with breast cancer have no obvious risk factors other than gender. Being aware of your own risks will help you remember the importance of regular breast health checks.
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Weight
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Being overweight is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, especially for women after menopause.
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Diet
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Diet is a suspected risk factor for many types of cancer, including breast cancer, but studies have yet to show for sure which types of foods increase risk. It’s a good idea to restrict sources of red meat and other animal fats (including dairy fat in cheese, milk, and ice cream), because they may contain hormones, other growth factors, antibiotics, and pesticides.
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Exercise
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There is growing evidence that exercise can reduce breast cancer risk.
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Alcohol consumption
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The amount of alcohol a woman drinks can increase risk.
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Smoking
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Smoking is associated with an increase in breast cancer risk.
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Oestrogen
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The female hormone oestrogen stimulates breast cell growth, long term exposure to estrogen, without any breaks, can increase the risk of breast cancer.
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Recent oral contraceptive use
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Using birth control pills can increase a woman’s breast cancer risk, but only for a limited period of time after exposure that is why screening is important for younger women.
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Gender
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Although men can get breast cancer, women are at most risk and gender is the biggest risk factor.
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Age
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Growing older is another major risk factor for breast cancer.
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Family history of breast cancer
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If your mother, daughter, sister has had breast cancer, you could be at higher risk.
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Personal history of breast cancer
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If you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, your risk of developing it again, either in the same breast or the other breast, is higher.
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Radiation therapy to the chest
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Having radiation therapy to the chest area can increase breast cancer risk.
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Breast cellular changes
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Unusual changes in breast tissue can be a risk factor for developing breast cancer.
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Pregnancy and breastfeeding
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Pregnancy and breastfeeding appear to reduce future breast cancer risk.
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