Breast cancer occurs when the cells within a person’s breast start to grow in an abnormal manner. The cells then multiply and spread through the person’s breast. There are several causes of breast cancer. Family history is among the known reasons of what causes breast cancer. One can get the disease from either their paternal or maternal relatives. They can estimate their risk of getting the disease by looking at close relatives such as daughter, mother and sister. If a male is diagnosed with breast cancer they may increase the risk factor for their female kin. It is believed that about five to ten of breast cancers are hereditary because of the changes or mutations in particular genes which are passed along within families.
Hormonal Influences
Hormonal influences are also among the causes of breast cancer. Hormonal influences regard contraceptives, childbirth, post menopausal hormonal therapy and menstruation. It is advisable for women to have their first child before the age of thirty. This will help to decrease the risk of getting breast cancer. Additionally, not getting any children may increase one’s risk of getting the disease. The risk of breast cancer is also increased in women who started their periods early or those who experience late menopause. Use of postmenopausal therapy consisting of progesterone and estrogen for many years can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Lifestyle and the Environment
Environmental conditions are also among what causes breast cancer. The lifestyle a person chooses could also determine if the get breast cancer or not. Lifestyle includes diet and unhealthy bodies (obese). Diets consisting of fats should be avoided and so should alcohol. Regular exercise might help to reduce the risk.
Risk Factors Associated With Breast Cancer
Some factors are not direct causes of breast cancer but increase the risk of getting the disease. Gender is among the factors and the disease is approximately a hundred times more prevalent in women than men. A person who had an earlier case of breast cancer is also at risk of getting the disease in their other breast. Dense tissue in the breast is not one of the reasons among what causes breast cancer but it is a risk factor. If one’s breast has dense tissue it means that their fatty tissue is lesser than their glandular tissue. People who had earlier radiation treatment on their chest to treat another cancer are also at risk of getting breast cancer as well. Another risk factor associated with breast cancer is age. Older women especially those in the fifty years and above age bracket are more at risk of getting breast cancer compared to young woman.