Even though the exact cause of breast cancer is unknown, there are several well recognized factors, which if present in a person could be linked to an increased risk of developing breast malignancy. Role played by some other factors are not so well established. Widely recognized risk factors for breast cancer include increasing age, family history of breast cancer, and exposure to female reproductive hormones. Risk factors that are not well established include, dietary factors, and environmental factors. After this discussion about risk factors, it should be emphasized that in almost half of all women, who develop breast cancer, no recognizable risk factors except increasing age might be demonstrated.

Another way of stratifying risk factors for breast cancer is to divide them in to two separate groups. The first of these two groups consist of those risk factors over which the individual has no control, otherwise known as risk factors that are un-modifiable. Un-modifiable risk factors would include factors like increasing age, female gender, genetic factors, family history of breast cancer, own diagnosis of previous breast cancer, ethnicity, and race. The second group consists of factors that can be modified by the person, which may result in a decline or rise in the chance of developing a breast malignancy. A list of risk factors that are modifiable may include smoking, alcohol consumption, use of hormonal replacement treatment, decreased physical activity, obesity, consumption of fat derived from animal source.

Posted by: Loraine

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