From genetics to lifestyle: understanding the factors that shape breast cancer risk

By HS and SM, intern medical writers

Knowing the risk is the first step towards knowing how and when to screen.

Did you know that breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, next only to lung cancer?

However, in India it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Cancer Registry Programme, the incidence of breast cancer cases in India was projected to reach approximately 2.33 lakhs, in the year 2025.^[1,2] Although advances in screening, diagnosis, molecular classification, and treatment have improved outcomes for many patients, breast cancer remains a heterogeneous disease with considerable variation in biological behavior. Nearly 1 out of 28 women is at a risk of developing it during their lifetime.^[3] Breast cancer can affect anyone, and it is completely natural to wonder:

Can I actually protect myself from breast cancer?

The honest answer is that there is no magical shield that can guarantee 100% protection. However, risk factors do not presume diagnosis, as many people who develop breast cancer often do not have any risk factors, or people who had risk factors did not actually develop a cancer. Genetic factors only account for 5-10% of the total breast cancer cases.^[4]

While the risks are ultimately influenced by a combination of unchangeable factors, including age and genetics, you can actively lower your overall risk through modifiable lifestyle habits such as staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol. Most importantly, routine screenings ensure that if breast cancer does occur, early detection may help locate cancers in their localized stage, increasing cancer survival chances up to 99%. Understanding these factors helps you make informed health decisions and discuss appropriate screening and prevention strategies with your doctor.

Risk factors can broadly be divided into two groups.

·       Non-modifiable risk factors:

These are things you cannot change, such as your age, sex, genetics or family history, inherited genetic mutations, previous history of exposure to radiation (particularly at a younger age), dense breast tissue, etc.

·         Modifiable risk factors:

These are the factors which you may be able to influence, such as alcohol intake, physical activity, diet and smoking.

Non-modifiable risk factors:

1.      Age:

The risk for breast cancer increases with age. Most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50. However, it is important to know that no age is immune to breast cancer. It has been diagnosed in teenagers too, though such cases are extremely rare.

2.      Sex:

If you are a female, then the chances of getting breast cancer is more than that of a male. This is mainly because females are more exposed to hormones such as estrogen and progesterone over their lifetime.

3.      Family history of breast cancer:

Having a family history of breast cancer may increase your risk. The risk may be higher if a first-degree relative, such as a parent, sibling, or child, has had breast cancer, or if several family members on either side of your family had breast cancer.

4.      Previous history of radiation therapy:

Women with previous history of radiation for Hodgkin’s lymphoma before age 30, concomitant chemotherapy with anthracycline has higher chances of getting breast cancer.

5.      Breast density:

Breast density refers to the proportion of fibrous and glandular tissue compared with fatty tissue in the breast. Dense breast is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer as it can create problems for visualizing suspected breast tissue in the mammogram.

6.      Genetic mutations:

About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are hereditary. Women with inherited mutations to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. These genes are responsible for normal growth of the breast tissues.^[5]

7.      Reproductive history:

Both menstrual and reproductive history may increase the risk for breast cancer. Early menstruation (before the age of 12), late pregnancy (after the age of 35), late menopause (after 55 years), or never giving birth may potentially increase the risk for breast cancer.

8.      Reproductive and hormonal factors:

Breast tissue is influenced by hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone. These are natural female hormones that signal breast cells to grow and divide. The longer your body produces or is exposed to high levels of these hormones over your lifetime, the higher the chances of cell changes.

9.      Exposure to certain drugs:

Drugs such as diethylstilbestrol (DES) were previously used to prevent miscarriage in pregnant women during the 1940s-1970s. Women who took DES have a higher risk of developing breast cancer later in life.

Risk factors you can change:

1.      Not being physically active:

Regular physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Women who are physically inactive may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Staying active through activities such as walking, cycling, and swimming may reduce overall chances of breast cancer.^[6]

2.      Not maintaining a healthy weight after menopause:

Older women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than the ones who are at a healthy weight.

3.      Delaying pregnancy or avoiding breastfeeding:

If you are having your first pregnancy after age 30 without breast feeding, or not having a full-term pregnancy, you may be under an increased risk of breast cancer.

4.      Drinking alcohol:

Alcohol consumption is another factor that may cause breast cancer. Research has found that women who drink alcohol have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who do not drink, and the risk generally increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. This includes different types of alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and spirits. Even small amounts of alcohol may be associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk.

5.      Taking hormones:

Various hormone replacement therapies and birth control pills available in the market contain both estrogen and progesterone. These introduce external hormones to your system which can raise your risk of breast cancer. You can talk to your doctor about how hormones could affect your risk.

Breast cancer risk is influenced by multiple factors, not just one. Age is one of the strongest risk factors. Reproductive and hormonal factors may also affect risk. If you are concerned with your individual risk, talk to your doctor about healthy lifestyle choices and appropriate screening.

Lifestyle changes may help lower your risk, but it cannot completely prevent breast cancer. Some risk factors, such as age, genetics, and family history, cannot be changed, therefore, regular breast screening and discussing your personal risk with a healthcare professional are important.

Understanding the continuum from genetics to lifestyle is important for developing more individualized approaches to breast cancer prevention and risk assessment. The most important approach is to know about your personal risk, make healthy choices wherever possible, and follow appropriate breast screening recommendations.

References:

1.         Projections Indicate Over 230,000 New Breast Cancer Cases Expected in [Internet]. Breva; 2025 [cited 2026 Oct 12]. Available from: https://breva.in/blogs/breast-cancer/projections-indicate-over-230-000-new-breast-cancer-cases-expected-in-2025-india

2.         Sathishkumar K, Chaturvedi M, Das P, Stephen S, Mathur P. Cancer incidence estimates for 2022 & projection for 2025: Result from National Cancer Registry Programme, India. Indian J Med Res. 2023;156(4–5):598–607. doi:10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_1821_22 PubMed PMID: 36510887; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10231735.

3.         Dr Mathangi J. Breast Cancer Statistics India 2026. Breast Cancer Statistics India 2026 and Early Detection [Internet]. [cited 2026 Oct 6]. Available from: https://drmathangi.com/breast-cancer-statistics-india-2026/

4.         CDC. Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer [Internet]. CDC; 2024 [cited 2026 Oct 6]. What Causes Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancers. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/breast-ovarian-cancer-hereditary/causes/index.html

5.         DiGrande S. Know the Risk: 5 Breast Cancer Risk Factors | AJMC [Internet]. AJMC; 2018 [cited 2026 Oct 12]. Available from: https://www.ajmc.com/view/know-the-risk-5-breast-cancer-risk-factors

6.         CDC. Breast Cancer [Internet]. CDC; 2026 [cited 2026 Oct 12]. Breast Cancer Risk Factors. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/risk-factors/index.html

 

Cancer, Clarity, and Care

For most of my professional life, cancer existed for me as data and evidence. It lived in manuscripts, guidelines, survival curves, and carefully constructed sentences meant to inform, persuade, or educate. I understood cancer deeply—but at a distance.

That distance disappeared the day I was diagnosed with cancer.

Nothing in medical training or years of working with cancer awareness programs fully prepares you for the moment when statistics turn personal. The vocabulary remains the same—stage, risk, prognosis, treatment options—but the way you hear it and perceive it changes. Every word acquires weight. Every pause is noticed. Every uncertainty feels amplified. Cancer does not just challenge the body; it reorders how one listens, reads, and interprets information.

World Cancer Day often focuses on awareness, prevention, and progress. These are essential narratives. But lived experience adds another layer—one that is less visible and harder to quantify.

Cancer forces an encounter with uncertainty that no amount of information can fully resolve. Even when outcomes are favorable, the psychological shift is permanent. You do not simply return to who you were before the diagnosis; you carry forward a recalibrated sense of risk, time, and control.

As a medical professional and communicator, this experience has sharpened my understanding of how profoundly language matters in cancer care.

When you are on the receiving end, clarity becomes more than good practice—it becomes a form of reassurance. Not false optimism, not excessive detail, but honest, structured communication that respects the patient’s intelligence and emotional bandwidth.

Doctors ask patients to make decisions under stress, absorb complex information rapidly, and live with uncertainty long after consultations end. How they frame evidence, explain trade-offs, and acknowledge what they do not know shapes not only decisions, but trust.

Scientific progress in oncology has been remarkable. Targeted therapies, improved diagnostics, and individualized treatment strategies have transformed outcomes for many cancers.

Yet advancement brings complexity, and complexity can overwhelm if not communicated with care. Precision medicine must be matched with precision in explanation.

Cancer also exposes inequities starkly. Access to timely diagnosis, specialist and holistic care, and credible information remains uneven. Progress loses its moral force if it benefits only a subset of those who need it most.

World Cancer Day, for me, is no longer just a professional observance. It is a reminder of responsibility. Responsibility to communicate with accuracy and empathy. To resist oversimplification without hiding behind jargon. To remember that behind every clinical term is a person trying to make sense of a life that has been altered.

Cancer taught me something I did not learn from textbooks: people remember not just what they are told, but how they are told. Long after details fade, tone, clarity, and honesty remain.

As medical communication professionals, let's help people understand, decide, and live - with cancer and beyond cancer.

10 Remarkable Breakthroughs in Medicine and Health in 2025

From gene therapies and the development of next-generation drugs to devices and transplants that highlight fundamental changes in personalized and effective treatment, several discoveries in 2025 have given hope for improving quality of life. These breakthroughs matter because they have transformed the means of healthcare delivery, making it more accessible and efficient for mankind. They have shifted the focus from managing symptoms to prevention and cure, potentially saving millions of lives by tackling some of the deadliest diseases effectively.

Here are 10 medical breakthroughs of 2025:

1. Rare genetic disorder treated using CRISPR-based gene therapy

After birth, Baby KJ was diagnosed with a rare, fatal disorder called severe carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency (CPS1), which affects one in a million babies. The ammonia levels in the blood increase and lead to vomiting, hypothermia, brain swelling, and coma. Scientists used modified CRISPR treatment to repair faulty genes in KJ’s liver. The experimental procedure was successful and enhanced baby KJ’s life expectancy. KJ became the world’s first patient to receive customized gene-editing therapy, developed by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine.

2. Human embryo implantation in 3D

Researchers have captured real-time 3D images of human embryo implantation into an artificial uterus for the first time. The uterine matrix was created using a collagen-based gel, rich in uterine tissue and proteins required for embryo development. The experiment was conducted on both human and mouse embryos to study the implantation process. Mouse embryos adhered to the surface, whereas human embryos penetrated deeply into the uterine tissue for implantation.

3. Male contraceptive pill YCT-529 passes safety trials

Researchers have long explored the possibility of a safe and reversible male oral contraceptive. They have tested a novel nonhormonal oral contraceptive pill for males, the first of its kind to pass early-phase clinical safety trials in humans in 2025. The daily pill, YCT-529, blocks a vitamin A metabolite from binding to receptors in the testes, which stops sperm production. The effects of the pill are reversible. However, further efficacy studies and larger trials may perhaps open doors for approval.

4. US FDA clears blood tests to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease

In May 2025, the US FDA approved the first blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. This new blood test (Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio) measures the ratio of two proteins in the human plasma - pTau217 and β-amyloid 1-42. The ratio is then linked to the presence or absence of amyloid plaques in the brain and helps in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The test is rapid, highly accurate, and less expensive and invasive compared to the previously available tests. The test can be made highly accessible as primary care providers can now start the diagnostic process even at centers where healthcare providers are scarce. In October 2025, the US FDA approved a second blood test, Elecsys pTau181 plasma test, developed by Roche, that helps rule out the presence of amyloid plaque.

5. Gene therapy for Huntington’s disease shows promise

Huntington’s disease is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder where the brain cells are destroyed persistently, eventually leading to paralysis, dementia, or even death. This condition is caused by a single inherited gene mutation, which causes misfolded proteins to gather in brain cells. But a new gene treatment to disable the toxic protein, injected into the most affected part of the brain, has proven to slow down the progression of the disease. This paves the way for the first-ever treatment for this rare inherited brain degeneration.

6. Vaccines for dementia show potential

Large-scale studies in 2025 from the University of Oxford, NIHR, Stanford, and others suggest some vaccines, such as those for shingles, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, pneumococcus, and Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap or DPT), can lower the risk for developing dementia. Researchers emphasize that more controlled trials are required to confirm the efficacy of these vaccines.

7. The first successful bladder transplant in a human

In a groundbreaking achievement, a 41-year-old became the first human to receive a urinary bladder transplant. After a tumor removal, his bladder was too small and functionally compromised, and both his kidneys had to be removed due to renal cancer. A donor’s kidney and bladder were transplanted. Postoperative evaluation confirmed adequate urine drainage of the transplanted bladder. Bladder transplantation involves joining a complex network of blood vessels and nerves. The surgery was done to test the viability of bladder transplants in people suffering from terminal kidney and bladder-related diseases. This surgery marks a major milestone in urology.

8. Gene-edited pig liver transplant functions inside a human for 10 days

In 2025, the world witnessed the first-ever xenotransplantation into a brain-dead human. The modified pig liver functioned for 10 days without rejection, which opened doors for a new era of organ transplantation. This achievement also brings hope for solving the organ-shortage crisis. Researchers used a Bama miniature pig liver with six-gene edits, with the recipient’s left liver intact, and simultaneously monitored the vitals, like bile production, for 10 days. The result showed potential compatibility of animal organs as a “bridge” or support organ for patients awaiting human donors.

 9. New advancements in mRNA technology

mRNA vaccines became well-known during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are now being tested in hundreds of clinical trials for conditions such as the flu, HIV, genetic disorders, and cancer. mRNA vaccines use a synthetic immunization strategy using genetic codes rather than live-attenuated or inactive viruses to trigger an immune response.  The main advantages include rapid design, no need for cell cultures, high immunogenicity, strong safety profiles, and adaptability to various pathogens. Early results from several studies are encouraging. A recent study confirmed that mRNA-based HIV vaccines can trigger the production of neutralizing antibodies, which are essential for protecting cells from infection. While these innovations suggest that mRNA technology could be a powerful weapon against various diseases, larger-scale clinical trials are still necessary to determine its long-term effectiveness and safety.

10. Smallest artificial heart implanted in a 7-year-old

In a breakthrough for pediatric medicine, Chinese surgeons successfully implanted the world’s smallest artificial heart into a 7-year-old boy suffering from end-stage heart failure.  Donor hearts for children are extremely rare, and adult-sized implants are often too large to be safe. This miniature device, weighing only 45 grams, fills a critical gap in care. The 2.9-centimeter device uses magnetic equipment to help the heart pump blood. The boy showed immediate signs of improvement after the surgery, proving that these tiny, high-tech devices can provide a vital lifeline for children who have run out of other options.

Read more here:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/juergeneckhardt/2025/12/18/five-medical-breakthroughs-of-2025-cancer-heart-and-genetic-diseases/

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-clears-first-blood-test-used-diagnosing-alzheimers-disease

https://www.alz.org/news/2025/fda-clearance-blood-test-primary-care-rule-out-alzheimers-related-amyloid-pathology

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/10-transformational-health-discoveries-of-2025/

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/medical-miracle-breakthroughs-hope-2025

https://qazinform.com/news/world-medical-breakthroughs-in-2025-a-year-in-review-d1f974.

https://www.popsci.com/health/health-breakthroughs-2025/

https://www.euronews.com/health/2025/12/25/health-in-2025-the-5-medical-breakthroughs-that-gave-us-hope