ARTICLES
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
There are many different risk factors for breast cancer.
The most significant of these risks factors is gender and
age. Most occurrences of breast cancer occur in a certain
gender and age group. Even though those outside this gender
and age group are still at risk for breast cancer, the risk
is not as great.
Women are at the greatest risk of developing breast cancer.
Contrary to what many people believe, men can also develop
breast cancer. However, women are at a much greater risk
of developing breast cancer than men. Age also plays a factor
in the development of breast cancer. The cancer is far more
common in women over 50 versus women under 20.
Women who have relatives with breast cancer are also at
a greater risk of developing the cancer themselves. This
risk increases with first-degree relatives like a mother,
sister, or daughter. A male relative with prostate cancer
also increases the risk of developing breast cancer. If a
mother and sister both have breast cancer then the risk is
increased.
A history of breast cancer also leaves women at a greater
risk of developing the same cancer. This happens when the
cancer cells spread to the lymph glands. There is a great
risk that the cancer will develop in the opposite breast.
When breast conservation therapy is used as treatment for
the cancer, there is a risk of cancer redeveloping in the
same breast.
Some hormonal factors increase the risk of breast cancer.
A woman who started her menstrual period before the age of
12 has a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer.
This is also true of women that have menopause after 55,
women who have a first child after age 30, and women that
have never had children. |
