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
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