What causes breast cancer?
The cause of breast cancer is still unknown. However, we do know that there are several factors that increase a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer. Being female and getting older are the two greatest risks for getting breast cancer. Having a family history especially in a first degree relative, a mother, daughter or sister also raises a woman’s risk. Additional risk factors for breast cancer are having no children, or waiting until after age 30 to have children, beginning menstruation at an early age, before 10 or 11 years of age, or not going through menopause until after age 55. Taking hormone replacement therapy after menopause and excessive alcohol consumption, are also associated with an increased risk for breast cancer.
