Awareness & Prevention

What Causes Breast Cancer? It is not possible to say what exactly causes a woman's breast cancer. However, research has shown that some factors might increase a woman's risk or chance of developing breast cancer. These factors are called risk factors.

Some known risk factors for developing breast cancer include:
  • Getting older.
  • Having a family history of breast cancer.
  • Having previously been diagnosed with breast cancer or DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ - abnormal cells in the breast ducts, which over time could develop into breast cancer).
Other risk factors that seem to slightly increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer include:
  • Starting menstruation, or 'periods', at a relatively early age (before 12 years); and starting menopause, or 'change of life', at a relatively late age (after 55 years).
  • Not having children, or having a first child after 35 years of age.
  • Not breast feeding – the more months spent breast feeding, the lower the risk of developing breast cancer.
  • Taking combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) after menopause, especially when taken for 5 years or longer.
  • Putting on a lot of weight in adulthood, especially after menopause.
  • Drinking alcohol (more than 2 standard drinks a day).
  • Taking the oral contraceptive pill. This appears to only increase the risk whilst taking the pill; the risk goes back down after you stop taking it.
  • Having previously been diagnosed with LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) or AH (atypical hyperplasia).

Detection & Prevention

There is no known preventative treatment for breast cancer. However, early detection is the key to successful treatment.

Detection methods include:

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