Causes of Breast Cancer – Still a Mystery?

If you do your research, you’ll find that the information given still points to the “I don’t know, but here are the risk factors” lame explanation. What a lot of you know what! Sometimes I wonder if the people who write these things really think it through.

Here’s what I mean… “most women who develop breast cancer have no risk factors other than simply being a woman and getting older (especially being over 50). Talk to your doctor about your risk… blah, blah, blah.

Wouldn’t a better explanation be… “most women who develop breast cancer have no risk factors other than simply being a woman and getting older (especially being over 50),… because the older you get the weaker your immune system gets, and puts you more at risk to any kind of disease, including breast cancer or any other cancer. And by the way… your immune system has been slowly failing you since the age of 30 because of all the crap you eat!”

Ok, I’m harsh… but I’ve been known to tell it like it is! Other risk factors for breast cancer include…

Having had breast cancer before. No kidding. If you know anything about cancer, your odds of getting it again doubles, but I won’t get into that.

A family history of breast cancer (especially in a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed before menopause.

Family history of ovarian cancer.

An above-average exposure to the hormone estrogen, which your body naturally produces, perhaps because you have never given birth or gave birth for the first time after age 30.

Began menstruating at a young age.

Reached menopause later than average.

Have taken hormone replacement therapy (estrogen plus progestin) for more than five years.

Dense breast tissue (as shown on a mammogram).

A history of breast biopsies showing certain breast changes, such as an increased number of abnormal cells that are not cancerous (atypical hyperplasia).

Radiation treatment to the chest area (for example, to treat Hodgkin lymphoma), especially before age 30.

Some factors slightly increase your risk of breast cancer. You may be at slightly higher risk if you are obese (especially after menopause), drink alcohol, take birth control pills (the Pill).

Some women develop breast cancer without having any of these risk factors. Most women with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.