Causes and High-Risk Factors of Breast Cancer
Many factors are known to trigger this disease, mainly including:
Age: In women, incidence rises with age. Rare before menarche, uncommon before age 20, but increases rapidly after age 20, peaking at ages 45–50, though relatively flat thereafter. After menopause, incidence continues to rise, reaching its peak around age 70. Mortality rate also increases with age, rising gradually after age 25 and remaining consistently high in old age.
Genetic Factors
Women with a first-degree family history of breast cancer have a risk 2–3 times higher than the general population.
Other Breast Diseases
Age at Menarche: Women who menstruate before age 13 have a risk 2.2 times higher than those who start after age 17.
Age at Menopause: Women who experience menopause after age 55 face greater risk than those before age 45.
Age at First Pregnancy: Risk increases progressively with delayed first childbirth. Those giving birth after age 35 have higher risk than nulliparous women.
Postmenopausal Estrogen Replacement: Long-term use of estrogen during menopause may increase breast cancer risk.
Oral Contraceptives
Place of Birth
Diet: Especially high-fat diets can increase breast cancer risk.
Alcohol Consumption
Weight gain may be an important risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer.
[Breast Cancer]