{"id":73703,"date":"2024-10-16T11:22:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T05:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adityabirlacapital.com\/healthinsurance\/active-together\/?p=73703"},"modified":"2025-08-20T14:24:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T08:54:26","slug":"risks-factors-for-breast-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adityabirlacapital.com\/healthinsurance\/active-together\/2024\/10\/16\/risks-factors-for-breast-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"All You Need To Know About The Risk Factors For Breast Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

India ranks <\/span>highest in number of estimated breast cancer deaths (98,337)<\/b><\/a> for the year 2022 among females. Most breast cancers are found in women who are <\/span>50 years old or older<\/b><\/a>. Although all the causes of breast cancer are not known, your risk for breast cancer can be due to a combination of factors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Genetics and breast cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In India, the number of breast cancer cases among young women is increasing. The genetic testing criteria for hereditary breast cancer<\/strong><\/a> caused by genes passed from parent to child have <\/span>not been validated<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

BRCA genes<\/h3>\n

Most inherited cases of breast cancer are associated with mutations in BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene one) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene two). The prevalence of BRCA mutations in India is higher than in Western countries, with some studies <\/span>reporting rates of 29.1%<\/b><\/a>. The function of the BRCA genes is to repair cell damage and keep breast, ovarian, and other cells growing normally. <\/span><\/p>\n

Family history of breast cancer<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Women with close relatives \u2014 especially sisters, mothers, or daughters \u2014 who have been diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher risk of developing the disease. Having one close relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer <\/span>increases the risk<\/b><\/a>, but two or more relatives significantly raise it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifestyle factors and breast cancer risk<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Given below are certain lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer:<\/p>\n

Obesity<\/h3>\n

\"breast<\/p>\n

Excess weight increases the risk of first-time breast cancer and its risk of relapsing as compared to women who maintain a healthy weight, especially after menopause. This higher risk is because fat cells make estrogen, extra fat cells mean more estrogen in the body, and estrogen can make hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers develop and grow.<\/p>\n

Alcohol consumption<\/h3>\n

Research shows that drinking alcoholic beverages increases estrogen and other hormone levels and increases a woman’s risk of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Compared to women who don’t drink at all, women who have three alcoholic drinks per week have a <\/span>15% higher risk<\/b><\/a> of breast cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smoking and secondhand smoke<\/h3>\n

Smoking is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in younger, pre-menopausal women. Research also has shown that there may be a link between heavy second-hand smoke exposure and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. Smoking also can increase complications from breast cancer treatment, including:<\/p>\n