What Causes Breast Cancer Risk Factors to Be Aware Of
According to experts, what causes breast cancer ranges from risk factors that you can't control such as genetic mutations to those that you can like drinking alcohol. Understanding the causes of breast tumor is the first step on prevention.
Experts still don’t know the exact factors that lead to tumors in your breasts. They still can’t explain why it can happen that your friend develops the disease and you don’t.
But what facts can confirm is this: Neither bumping nor touching the breasts is the cause of tumors in the breasts.
Potential Risk Factors of Breast Tumor
Human Aging - Aging is one of the primary causes that you can't control. It's one of the factors that makes tumor prevention extremely challenging.
Women over 60 or who are already in the menopausal are more prone to develop tumors in their breasts. But there are women in their 30s who also get tumors in their breasts. See Cathy Bueti's story on Surviving Breast Cancer - Survivor Stories.
Gender - Although a man can also develop tumors in their breasts but it rarely happens. Being a woman is a primary cause.
Genetics - If you have abnormalities in either BCRA1 or BCRA2 genes, you have a 50 to 85% risk for tumor growth in your breasts. See what you can do to avoid it in Breast Cancer and Its Prevention.
Family History - If your family has a history of cancer, it makes you more susceptible. Having relatives - in either your mother's or father's side - diagnosed with the disease is one of the factors that increases your risk.
Reproductive and Menstrual History - Your reproductive and menstrual history is one of the factors that can influence your susceptibility to developing tumors in your breasts.
The following are factors that may trigger tumor in your breasts:
1. If you had your first child late in life,
2. If you had your first menstrual period before age 12,
3. If you went through menopause after age 55, or
4. If you never had children. Nuns have the highest risk.
You are more susceptible to this type if you are under a hormonal therapy in which you are taking estrogen and progestin after menopause.
Race - According to facts, tumors in the breasts are more common among white women than Asian, Latina, or African American women.
Radiation Therapy - Growth of tumors in your breasts are proven harmful effects of radiation. Sad but true because radiation causes secondary cancer.
If you were treated with radiation therapy for any illness like Hodgkins disease before reaching age 30, it can trigger breast tumor to develop.
Breast Density - Compressed and thickset breast tissues are also one of the risk factors and make prevention difficult.
Obesity or Being Overweight - What causes breast cancer? Facts point to obesity as an important risk factor because it increases production of estrogen. And being overweight after menopause further increases your risk.
Lack of Physical Activity - Weight gain is the result if you don't recognize the importance of regular exercise or you are a couch potato. Gaining weight beyond what is normal and healthy is a risk factor. Thus, any form of physical activity is recommended as it provides prevention against tumors.
To understand the link between physical activity and tumor, click Cancer and Exercise.
Too Much Alcohol - If you drink or you like to drink, think twice because one of the many dangers of alcohol is it's what causes breast cancer. See Facts about Alcohol.
Alcohol should be avoided especially if you are susceptible to breast tumor or you are already diagnosed with it.
Any of these risk factors can be the reason for what causes breast cancer to develop. The list serves as your guide to prevention.
