The risk-factors for breast cancer

Certain conditions increase women’s risk of developing breast cancer. However many women with breast cancer do not have specific identifiable risk factors apart from being a female and growing older. Some of the risk factors are given below. - Female gender

- Women over the age of 50.

- Attained menarche before 12 years of age and menopause after 50 years of age.

- Use of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) or hormone replacement therapy.

- First child birth after 30 years of age

- Having relatives who had cancer of breast ovary, uterus, bowel and rectum.

- Obesity

- High consumption of animal fat and oily food

- Smoking (both active and passive) and alcohol consumption. - Sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity

- Those who had radiation to chest in the past

K.A.D. Chandra Kumari Gunawardana

Nursing Officer, N.C.T.H.

Ragama.