Risk factors of breast cancer (1)

Several risk factors of breast cancer are briefly described below.

Gender: Being a woman provides a higher risk of getting breast cancer as opposed to being a man. Unfortunately, this is something that we can’t control.

Age: An older person has a higher risk of getting breast cancer as compared to a younger person.

Genetic risk factors: The most common hereditary breast cancer is from inherited mutation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.  If someone has inherited mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, there is a higher risk of developing breast cancer.  This is because, in normal cells, BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes help regulate DNA repair proteins, cell cycle, and apoptosis to keep the cells from becoming cancerous.


Birth control and hormone: It has been reported that women who use birth control drugs (oral contraceptives) have a slightly higher risk of getting breast cancer.  For example, some studies have been conducted on an injectable form of progesterone, Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA; Depo-Provera®); DMPA is given once every 3 months as a birth control.  The results showed that women currently using DMPA may have an increase in risk of breast cancer.  However, if the drug was used more than 5 years ago, the risk doesn’t seem to be increased.  Some studies indicate that both estrogen therapy (ET) and estrogen progestin therapy (EPT) are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.  The longer ET or EPT is used, the higher the risk.


(to be continued)

© Jiajiu Shaw, 2015

Disclaimer: This blog is written solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other medical professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All contents posted are extracted from the book I am writing, "IS CANCER IN US", to be published in about two months.