Women make up roughly 99% of breast cancer cases. Men can also be affected, but only around 0.5–1%. Female gender remains the strongest known risk factor
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The risk of breast cancer rises steadily with age. Most cases occur in women aged over 40, after menopause. This may be due to longer exposure to hormones like oestrogen
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Having a mother, sister, or daughter who has had breast cancer can raise your risk. However, note that most patients have no close relative with the disease
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Some people inherit high-risk gene mutations such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2. These increase breast cancer risk considerably
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The longer your body is exposed to oestrogen, the higher the risk. Early periods (before age 12), late menopause, having your first child after 30, or never having children, all increase the risk
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Women with dense breast tissue have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Dense tissue can also make it harder to detect cancers on a mammogram
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Being overweight or obese after menopause raises risk. Fat tissue produces oestrogen, and higher levels can stimulate hormone-sensitive cancers
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Tobacco use is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. Smoking also reduces treatment effectiveness and raises the chance of recurrence
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Drinking alcohol, even in moderate amounts, increases the risk. It affects hormone levels or cause cell damage, which contribute to cancer development
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