Risk Factors

Risk Factors

Early Menarche and Late Menopause: Women who experience their first menstrual period before the age of 12 and enter menopause after the age of 50 have a higher risk of breast cancer compared to others.

Diet High in Saturated Fats: Since animal fats increase the risk of breast cancer, monounsaturated fats such as canola oil and olive oil should be preferred.

Family History of Breast Cancer: Individuals with a family history of breast cancer are considered to be at higher risk of developing the disease. However, 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

Family history primarily includes first-degree relatives such as mother, daughter, and sister. If a family member was diagnosed with breast cancer after menopause at the age of 50 or older, the lifetime risk increases by only 5%. If the affected family member was premenopausal, the risk is 18.6%. If there is a close family member with bilateral breast cancer diagnosed before menopause, the lifetime risk increases to 50%.

Women with a clearly positive family history and premenopausal breast cancer should begin mammography screening 10 years earlier than the age at which their family member was diagnosed. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene testing can help identify high-risk individuals. This is relevant not only for breast cancer but also for epithelial tumors, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer.

Late Childbirth or No Childbirth: Pregnancy before the age of 35 is considered protective.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Consuming more than two alcoholic drinks per day.

Estrogen Therapy: Most studies show that estrogen use for more than 10 years causes a slight increase in the risk of developing breast cancer. However, these studies also emphasize that estrogen use reduces the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and colon cancer.

Previous History of Breast Cancer: Patients who have previously had breast cancer have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast. This risk is approximately 1% per year or 10% over a lifetime. The purpose of clinical follow-up after a breast cancer diagnosis is not only to detect recurrence but also to identify cancer in the other breast at an early stage.

Gender: Being female increases the risk of developing breast cancer. However, for every 100 women diagnosed with breast cancer, approximately 1 man will also be diagnosed with the disease.

Radiation Therapy for Hodgkin’s Disease: Patients who receive radiation therapy to the chest have a significantly increased risk of breast cancer approximately 10 years later. Early detection is especially important for this group.

Moderate Obesity: Although the relationship between obesity and breast cancer is complex, obesity is associated with an increased risk.