Health Tip: Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

2007/05/07

Some are associated with lifestyle choices

Although many risk factors for breast cancer cannot be controlled -- such as genetic mutations, age, and family history -- others are associated with lifestyle choices.

Here is a list of lifestyle factors that may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer:

• Not having given birth to children.
• Using oral contraceptives, depending on at what age and for how long they were taken.
• Using post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
• Abuse of alcohol.
• Being obese and eating a high-fat diet.
• Getting inadequate physical exercise.