- Age: Most breast cancer diagnoses are in women older than 50.
- Family History: One or more first-degree relatives - mother, daughter or sister - have had breast cancer
- No experience of childbirth, or having your first child after age 30.
- Early onset of menstrual period (before age 12)
- Late onset of menopause (after age 55)
- n Obesity
- Prior history of breast cancer
- Significant radiation exposure to chest
- Prior cancer of uterus or ovaries
- Atypical hyperplasia - abnormal increase in the number of cells - or another pre-malignant condition
- Multiple breast biopsies
- Other possible risk factors are use of alcohol, taking birth control pills for many years, and taking post-menopausal estrogen.
- Source: Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization, www.y-me.org
