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Breast Cancer

Risk Factors

Risk Factors

Older age and the following risk factors increase a woman's chance of getting breast cancer. Risk factors are conditions or agents that increase a person's chances of getting a disease.

  • Breast cancer among one or more of your close relatives, such as a sister, mother, or daughter.
  • Having no children or having your first child in your mid-thirties or later.
  • Having your first menstrual period before age 12.
  • Gaining weight after menopause, especially after natural menopause and/or after age 60.
  • Race. White women are at greater risk than black women. However, black women diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to die of the disease.

Five percent to 10 percent of all breast cancers are thought to be inherited.

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"Genetic Risk Factors" [4 min 0 sec]

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