It is not possible to say what causes breast cancer in a single person. We do know there are some features that are more common in people who develop breast cancer. These features are called ”risk factors”.
But it is usually hard to be sure whether a risk factor contributed to the development of the cancer. And having one or more risk factors for breast cancer does not mean that someone will develop this cancer. In fact, many people with breast cancer have no obvious risk factors.
Some factors can even lower your risk of developing breast cancer.
Risk factors for breast cancer you can change:
- being overweight
- lack of exercise and not being physically active
- drinking alcohol
Risk factors for breast cancer you can’t change:
- getting older – your risk increases with age
- being a woman
- having a family history of breast or ovarian cancer
- inheriting a gene fault , such as BRCA1, BRCA2 and CHEK2, from either parent
- taking the ‘pill’ (oral contraceptive pill)
- taking HRT (hormone replacement therapy)
- starting periods early or going through menopause late
- having breast cancer in the past
- having non-cancerous (benign) breast conditions in the past.
If you have any of these risk factors or you’re worried about your risk for breast cancer, yarn with your doctor, nurse, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker.