Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic. The site adds that in recent years, there has been an increase in survival rates due to early detection, new treatments and an overall better understanding of this disease. This includes understanding the risk factors one may have that may increase her chances of developing breast cancer.
Being Female
Being female is the main risk factor for developing breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). While this disease can develop in both sexes, women have more breast cells than men, thus constantly exposing these cells to the growth-promoting effects of the female hormones progesterone and estrogen. ACS adds that breast cancer is 100 times more likely to occur in women than in men for this reason.
Age
An uncontrollable risk factor, both the Mayo Clinic and ACS agree that as you age, your risk for developing breast cancer increases. The Mayo Clinic states that women older than 60 have a greater risk than do younger women. The ACS backs this theory, adding that one out of eight cases of invasive breast cancer are found in women younger than 45, while about two out of three cases are found in women age 55 are older.
Family History
If a first-degree relative--which includes a mother, sister or daughter--receives a breast cancer diagnosis, it doubles a woman's risk, according to the ACS. This risk increases by about five times when two first-degree relatives are diagnosed.
It is important to realize that not all women with this risk factor develops breast cancer. The ACS states that about 20 to 30 percent of women with breast cancer have a family member with this disease. When broken down, this means that 70 to 80 percent of women with breast cancer have no family history of this disease.
Lack of Physical Activity
Lack of physical activity or exercise may be a risk factor for breast cancer as well, and one you can control. The ACS explains that exercise may reduce breast cancer, citing a study from Women's Health Initiative (WHI). This study states that walking briskly for as little as 1 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours per week reduces a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by 18 percent. Walking 10 hours per week can reduce your risk slightly more. The ACS recommends 45 to 60 minutes of intentional physical activity, such as walking, bike riding or swimming, for five or more days per week.
Menstrual Cycles
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the ACS agree that the younger a woman is when she begins her menses, the greater her risk for developing breast cancer. The ACS states that women who have more menstrual cycles due to beginning them at an earlier age--typically before the age of 12--or those who go through menopause at a later age--usually after the age of 55--face a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer. This, according to the ACS, may be due to facing exposure for a longer period of time to the hormones progesterone and estrogen.
Use of Alcohol
The ACS states a clear link exists between alcohol use and breast cancer, the risk increasing with the amount of alcohol one consumes. In a comparison with non-drinkers, women consuming one alcoholic beverage per day have a small risk increase, while those who drink two to five drinks per day face a risk increase of 1 1/2 times in comparison to those who do not drink. The ACS recommends that women limit their alcoholic consumption to one drink per day.
