• Being a woman – Out of 100 cases of breast cancer, there will be 99 women and 1 man.
• Being age 50 and over – Breast cancer can happen at any age but in most cases, it occurs in women age 50 and over.
• Personal and family history can increase your risk if you:
  • have had breast cancer before
  • have a mother, sister, or daughter who is found to have breast cancer before menopause or who has had ovarian cancer at any age
  • have gene mutations such as BRCA 1 or BRCA1
• Above average exposure to estrogen – Your body may have come in contact with more estrogen (a female hormone) than average if you have never given birth, had your first child after age 30, began monthly periods at a young age, went through menopause at a later age or took hormone replacement therapy for more than five years.
• Radiation treatment to the chest area, especially if you were treated for Hodgkin lymphoma before age 30.
• Some breast conditions, such as having dense breasts. Breast density can only be seen on a mammogram – you cannot feel if you have dense breasts.
• Lifestyle factors such as being overweight and drinking alcohol.

Last updated February 2012