What Increases the Risk of Breast Cancer?

Understanding Breast Cancer Risk: Genetics, Hormones and Lifestyle

Breast cancer is still one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in women globally, although it can also be found in men. Knowing the risk factors that increase the chances of developing breast cancer is important for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. While the causes of breast cancer are not yet fully understood, several risk factors are known to increase the chances of developing the disease.

Risk Factors of Breast Cancer

Here are the different risk factors leading to breast cancer:

1.Age and Gender

Females have a higher risk of breast cancer. Men can get breast cancer, but women are much more at risk because of the higher oestrogen levels and the extra breast tissue. The risk of getting breast cancer also escalates with age. Older women are more likely to develop breast cancer, with the majority of cases occurring after the age of 50.

2.Family and Genetic History

Inherited mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can increase breast cancer risk. Women carrying these mutations have up to a 70% risk of developing breast cancer by age 80. Additionally, having a family history of breast cancer, particularly in a first-degree relative like a mother, sister, or daughter, also raises one's risk. Doctors recommend increased screening and preventive actions for people with gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer.

3.Hormonal Factors

Hormonal exposure is central to breast cancer risk. Women who start menstruating at less than 12 years of age or become menopausal at 55 years or later have an increased period of oestrogen exposure, elevating their risk. Furthermore, those who never give birth or give their first birth at 30 years of age or older may also be at increased risk, perhaps as a result of uninterrupted oestrogen cycles.

4.Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Hormone replacement therapy, especially combined estrogen and progestin therapy, elevates breast cancer risk. Moreover, women with HRT use over long durations may be at increased risk, although the risk seems to wane after cessation of therapy.

5.Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Many lifestyle elements can lead to a higher risk of breast cancer. These include:

• Alcohol Use: Research indicates a definite association between alcohol consumption and the risk of breast cancer. Even moderate alcohol use (one alcoholic beverage per day) can raise risk, and the risk increases with the quantity consumed.
• Obesity and Physical Inactivity: Being obese or overweight, particularly after menopause, increases the risk of breast cancer. Fat tissue produces estrogen, and higher body fat levels correlate with increased hormone levels. Physical inactivity may also be a cause of this hormonal imbalance.
• Diet: No food has been directly associated with breast cancer, but a diet high in saturated fats and processed foods can lead to an indirect increase in risk, causing obesity.
• Smoking: Tobacco use, particularly when initiated early in life, is associated with numerous cancers, including breast cancer. Smoking can also enhance the risk of more virulent forms of the disease.

6.Radiation Exposure

Women treated with radiation to the chest, particularly during adolescence or young adulthood (such as for Hodgkin's lymphoma), are much more likely to get breast cancer later in life. Risk is also based on the dose of radiation and age at exposure.

7.Breast Density

Women with dense breast tissue are more at risk of breast cancer. Moreover, dense tissue can also make tumours harder to find during a mammogram, which means there can be a delay in diagnosis. 

8.Certain Medical Conditions and Medications

Diseases like atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), diagnosed by biopsy, signify abnormal growth of breast cells, which raises the risk of invasive breast cancer. Also, long-term use of some medications, such as oral contraceptives, can raise breast cancer risk slightly, although study findings are inconsistent.

Genetic, hormonal, environmental, and lifestyle factors shape breast cancer risk. Though certain risks, like age and family history, are non-modifiable, others, like staying healthy, reducing alcohol, and not smoking, can be changed by making informed lifestyle decisions. 

Understanding these risk factors enables an individual to take preventive measures and get an early diagnosis. Therefore, routine screening, genetic counselling (if appropriate), and a healthy lifestyle are still the main elements in decreasing the overall burden of breast cancer.