Breast Cancer: Understanding Risk Factors and the Importance of Early Detection

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and it is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. This is why it is important to understand the risk factors that may influence your risk of getting breast cancer and the significance of early detection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are two types of risk factors: ones that you cannot change and ones that you can change. It is essential to be aware of these factors and discuss with your doctor ways to reduce your risk.

Risk factors you cannot change:

• Growing older
  • The risk of getting breast cancer increases with age and is most commonly diagnosed among middle-aged and older women.
• Genetics
  • There are specific inherited mutations in genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, that increase one’s risk of getting breast cancer.
• Family History
  • Having a relative who has or has had breast cancer may increase the risk of getting breast cancer.
• Reproductive History
  • Starting menstruation before age 12 and starting menopause after age 55 prolongs hormone exposure, which can increase the risk for breast cancer.
• Having dense breasts
  • Dense breasts can make it more difficult to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and they increase one’s risk of getting breast cancer.
• Personal History
  • Women who have previously had breast cancer are more likely to have it a second time.
• Radiation History
  • Having radiation to the chest to treat another health issue may increase the risk of getting breast cancer.
• Exposure to DES
  • Women who took Diethylstilbestrol (DES) or women whose mothers took DES while pregnant with them have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.

Risk factors you can change:

• Being physically inactive
• Being overweight after menopause
• Taking hormones
  • Some hormone replacement therapies can raise one’s risk for breast cancer when taken for more than 5 years
• Pregnancy History
  • Never having a full-term pregnancy, not breastfeeding, or having your first child after age 30 can increase your risk of getting breast cancer
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Low Vitamin D Levels

Knowledge is power — by learning about these risk factors, you can make lifestyle changes to be the healthiest, most empowered version of yourself, and lower your risk for breast cancer as much as possible.

Why early detection matters:

According to the National Cancer Institute, the 5-year relative survival for localized breast cancer, also known as stage 1, is 100%. In short, early breast cancer detection saves lives.

What you can do:

• Do monthly breast self-exams
  • Check out this page by the National Breast Cancer Foundation to learn more about breast self-exams.
• Schedule regular mammograms. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all women start getting mammograms every 2 years at age 40.
  • Check out this page by the National Breast Cancer Foundation to learn how to schedule a mammogram.

Sources

1. Breastcancer.org. (2025, April 29). Breast cancer risk factors. https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/risk-factors
2. National Breast Cancer Foundation. (n.d.). Early detection of breast cancer. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/early-detection-of-breast-cancer/
3. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Cancer stat facts: Female breast cancer. SEER. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html