Risk Factors
A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing a disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things.

Some risk factors you cannot do anything to change, such as gender, age, or family history. Other risk factors are lifestyle changes that may reduce your relative risk in developing a disease.

Although there are some women who are at higher risk for breast cancer, the fact is all women are at risk, since being female is the number one risk factor.

The highest relative risk factors for breast cancer are:

Gender - A female is 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than male.
Age - As we age, our risk for breast cancer increases dramatically, especially after the age of 60.
Family history of breast cancer - Your risk for breast cancer increases if you have two or more immediate relatives (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer. Your risk increases if your relative's cancer was diagnosed before the age of 65.
Certain inherited genetic mutations - Women who have changes (mutations) in certain genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 are at a higher risk for breast cancer.
Personal history of breast cancer - If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, your risk is higher for developing new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different than a recurrence of the same cancer.
High breast density - Women with higher density breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer.

Other risk factors for breast cancer include:

Other family history - While having more than one immediate family member with breast cancer is a high risk, having only one immediate family member is also a risk factor. Studies also indicate that having an immediate male family member with breast or prostate cancer can increase a woman's risk.
Hyperplasia - Having a previous breast biopsy that confirmed atypical hyperplasia.
Radiation exposure - Women who have had high dose radiation to chest, such as radiation therapy for a previous cancer, have a risk for cancer.
Menstrual Periods - Women who began having periods at an early age (before 12) are at higher risk. Women who go through menopause at a late age (after 55), are also at higher risk.
Pregnancy - Women who have never had a full-term pregnancy seem to be at a high risk for breast cancer. Women who have never breast fed are also at higher risk. Also, women who have their first baby at a later age (after age 30) have a higher risk.
Obesity - The chance of getting breast cancer after menopause is higher in women who are overweight or obese.
Height - Women who are over 5'3" are more likely of get breast cancer than shorter women.
Alcohol consumption - The American Cancer Society reports that women who have two to 5 alcoholic drinks per day are one and a half times more likely to develop breast cancer.
Post-menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy - Women who have been prescribed long-term use of a combination of estrogen and progesterone or estrogen alone as Post menopausal hormone therapy have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Race - White women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than African American, Hispanic, or Asian women.
Physical inactivity - Being physically inactive increases a woman's risk for breast cancer. Alternatively, even moderate exercise (two hours of brisk walking per week) may reduce the risk of breast cancer.

If you have any questions or concerns about your personal risk for breast cancer, please consult with your physician.

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