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Breast Cancer - Step 1: Find Out About Breast Cancer Risk email this page to a friendemail this page
What are the known risk factors for breast cancer? No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors can seldom explain why one woman develops it and another does not. Most women who develop breast cancer do not have a history of breast cancer in their family. Studies have shown the following risk factors for breast cancer. Most women who have these risk factors do not get breast cancer.
 
Age
Personal history of breast cancer
Family history of breast cancer
Certain breast changes
Genetic alterations
Menstrual history
Race/ethnicity
Radiation therapy to the chest
Breast density
DES (diethylstilbestrol)
Reproductive history
Hormone use
Obesity after menopause
Physical inactivity
Alcoholic beverages
 
Find out more:
Breast basics  Breast cancer statistics Breast cancer myths and facts

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