Unfortunately, the causes of breast cancer themselves are still not definite. There are, however, some theories and recognized risk factors that have come to light. If you consider the causes as the direct actions that led to the development of cancer, then you may consider the mutation of cells as the primary cause. When cells mutate, they do not die when they are supposed to. Cancer is then developed.
Still, the causes of the mutation are still not clear. You can at least take a look at some of the risk factors.
Gender
You may think that only women get breast cancer. That is not true, at all. However, your belief is not unfounded because women are a hundred times more likely to develop the disease. Men also get breast cancer but the majority of those who do are females. Because of this fact, the cause of breast cancer may be hormone-related.
Age
As you grow older, the possibility of breast cancer rises. Most women with serious cases of breast cancer are in their mid-fifties or older. Again, hormones could be the culprit. This is because women in their mid-fifties or older more likely have gone through menopause already and have lost hormones.
Heredity
If there are women in your immediate family who have had breast cancer, you are at a higher risk of getting the disease. Women in the same family may suffer from the same gene mutation that can lead to cancers. Those with BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are 80% more likely to develop breast cancer. For those who feel that they are at a great disadvantage because their risk doubles by having a mother or sister with breast cancer, think about those other women who developed the disease without any family history of breast cancer. Though your risk is higher, you may not even develop breast cancer while one who does not have any family history of the disease may actually be diagnosed with this condition.
Food and alcohol intake
An unhealthy diet is believed to be the cause of so many types of cancers and other diseases. In the case of breast cancer, obesity is cited in particular as a high risk factor. Obesity is often the result of unhealthy eating. At least this is a high risk factor that you can still manage. A low fat diet will help you reduce your risks. If you are overweight, you better look for a nutritionist, a physician and a physical trainer to help you lose the extra weight the healthy way.
As for drinking, a glass of alcoholic beverage won’t hurt. However, if you have a two or more glass a day habit, you are at a high risk of developing breast cancer. In numerical terms, you are 1.5 times more likely to develop breast cancer than a woman who does not drink at all.
Race
For some reason, Caucasians apparently are more at risk of developing breast cancer. While African Americans are less likely to get the cancer, they are more likely to die because of the disease when they do get it. Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians are less likely to develop breast cancer.
Early first period
Do you know that if you have had your period before you were twelve years old, you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer? This is something that you cannot help. So, you just have to try to lessen the other manageable risks. Again, this particular risk factor seems to point towards hormones as the primary agents of breast cancer. If you have had your period early then you may have had more years to experience the fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone in your body.
Late menopause
In relation to the early first period, the late menopause also causes you to experience the fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone for longer than the average woman. You are more exposed to estrogen. So, late menopause, specifically menopause after fifty five years of age, is also a risk factor of breast cancer. Combined with an early start in your period and you are in dangerous ground at least in terms of risk factors.
Late first pregnancy
You cannot control when you are going to start your first period. You also cannot control when you are going to be menopause. However, you can control when you are going to get pregnant. According to statistics, women who never got pregnant or get pregnant after the age of thirty are more likely to develop breast cancer. This may be because pregnancy reduces the number of periods you will ever have.
Use of contraceptive pills
Those who use contraceptive pills are at a slightly higher risk to develop breast cancer than women who do not use the pill. A woman who has not used the pill for over ten years is considered safe from the risk – again.
As you go through the risk factors, you will realize that many of them really point towards hormones as the cause of breast cancer. Those who are exposed to higher doses of estrogen seem more likely to develop breast cancer. The link, however, is still uncertain and physicians and researchers continue to delve into the problem.