Breast Cancer Risk Factors

According to the American Cancer Society, some of the major risk factors include:

• Gender A woman is 100 times more likely than a man to contract breast cancer (although the disease affects men as well).
• Age Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. Nearly 80 percent of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer are 50 or older. 
• Genetics An increased risk of breast cancer can be inherited from either parent.
• Family history Having a close blood relative such as a mother or sister who has had ovarian or breast cancer can increase your risk.
• Race Caucasian women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer, although African-American women have lower survival rates. 
• Personal history Women who have had breast cancer have a greater chance of developing another breast cancer.
• Obesity Being overweight increases your risk of breast cancer.

If you have risk factors for breast cancer, be sure to discuss your concerns with your health care provider.