There is no single cause. Several factors are related to breast cancer. The risk of developing the disease increases with age, being higher from 50 years.
Behavioral/environmental
» Obesity and overweight after menopause.
» Sedentary lifestyle (do not exercise).
» Consumption of alcoholic beverages.
» Frequent exposure to ionizing radiation (X-rays, mammography and tomography).
Reproductive/hormonal history
» First menstruation (menarche) before the age of 12.
» Not having children.
» First pregnancy after 30 years.
» Stop menstruating (menopause) after the age of 55.
» Have used oral contraceptives (contraceptive pill) for a prolonged time.
» Have done postmenopausal hormone replacement, especially if for more than five years.
Hereditary/genetic
- Family history of:
» Ovarian cancer.
» Breast cancer in men.
» Breast cancer in mother, sister or daughter, especially before the age of 50.
The presence of one or more of these risk factors does not necessarily mean that the woman will have the disease.
Source: National Cancer Institute - INCA
