Risk factors based on personal characteristics:
- Gender : Female gender is the most important risk factor. Among breast cancer patients, the incidence in men is 1%.
- Age: In the 60s, the frequency is 3.5%.
- Having breast cancer in the family: Presence of breast cancer in mother, sister, daughter or presence of breast or ovarian cancer in more than one relative in the family.
- Presence of breast cancer: There is a high probability of cancer in the other breast.
- Race: It is higher in the Caucasian race than the others.
- Radiation therapy to the chest area:
- Cellular changes in a breast biopsy
- Exposure to estrogen: Prolonged use or exposure may cause breast cancer.
- Early menstruation (before age 12)
- Late menopause (after 55)
- Exposure to environmental estrogen (foods or pesticides such as DDT)
- not giving birth-not breastfeeding
Individually controllable risk factors
- Kilo: Obesity is a factor that increases the risk of breast cancer, especially after menopause.
- Diet: Low-fat diet is protective against breast cancer.
- Exercise: 45 to 60 minutes of exercise every day reduces the risk of breast cancer.
- Smoking and/or Alcohol consumption
- Exposure to estrogen:
- Several years of combined (estrogen and progesterone) therapy (for menopause) or more than 10 years of estrogen-only use
- Use of birth control pills: Even if it is slightly, it causes an increased risk for breast cancer. However, when left for more than 10 years, the risk returns to normal.
- Stress and tension:Although there is no obvious evidence, it impairs quality of life and lowers the immune system.
