Understanding Risk Factors

What is a risk factor? 

A risk factor is anything that increases the possibility that you will develop breast cancer.  Risk factors are attributes that you cannot control, such as your age and family history, as well as those you can control – "lifestyle" factors like diet, alcohol consumption and weight. 

Here are some important facts to know about breast cancer risk:

• While having one or more risk factors may increase a woman’s risk of developing the disease, risk factors do not directly cause cancer.
• Many cases of breast cancer occur in women with NO known risk factors (other than being female and growing older) – so all women need to be aware of changes in their breasts and get appropriate breast cancer screening.
• The opposite is also true – some women with known breast cancer risk factors never develop the disease.
• Not all risk factors are equally important.  Some, such as having a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, significantly increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, while others, such as early menstruation, only slightly increase that risk.
• Every woman should be aware of her personal risk factors and talk to her doctor about her personal and family history.