{"id":4177,"date":"2023-10-02T16:47:43","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T20:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/?page_id=4177"},"modified":"2024-11-06T13:40:16","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T18:40:16","slug":"breast-cancer-risk-factors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-risk-factors\/","title":{"rendered":"Breast cancer risk factors"},"content":{"rendered":"    <section class=\"pages-grid-block theme-block aligndefault\"\n    >\n            <div class=\"pages-grid__listing-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"listing\">\n                        <div class=\"post-item\">\n                <a href='https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-risk-factors\/genetics-and-breast-cancer\/' class=\"post-item__inner\">                  <picture class=\"post-item__picture\">\n                  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/FCSQ_Vignette-2024_708x396_RGB_Genetique\u2013Capsules-video-educatives.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/FCSQ_Vignette-2024_708x396_RGB_Genetique\u2013Capsules-video-educatives-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/FCSQ_Vignette-2024_708x396_RGB_Genetique\u2013Capsules-video-educatives.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"100vw, (min-width:768px) 50vw, (min-width:1200px) 33vw\" alt=\"\">\n                  <\/picture>\n                  <p class=\"post-item__title heading-size-4\">Genetics and Breast Cancer<\/p>\n                                  <\/a>\n              <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"post-item\">\n                <a href='https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-risk-factors\/genetics-educational-video-capsules\/' class=\"post-item__inner\">                  <picture class=\"post-item__picture\">\n                  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/FCSQ_Vignette-2024_708x396_RGB-Genetique-et-cancer-du-sein.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/FCSQ_Vignette-2024_708x396_RGB-Genetique-et-cancer-du-sein-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/FCSQ_Vignette-2024_708x396_RGB-Genetique-et-cancer-du-sein.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"100vw, (min-width:768px) 50vw, (min-width:1200px) 33vw\" alt=\"\">\n                  <\/picture>\n                  <p class=\"post-item__title heading-size-4\">Genetics &#8211; Educational video capsules<\/p>\n                                  <\/a>\n              <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"post-item\">\n                <a href='https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-risk-factors\/management-guidelines\/' class=\"post-item__inner\">                  <picture class=\"post-item__picture\">\n                  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/FCSQ_Vignette-2024_708x396_RGB-Les-lignes-directrices-de-prise-en-charge.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/FCSQ_Vignette-2024_708x396_RGB-Les-lignes-directrices-de-prise-en-charge-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/FCSQ_Vignette-2024_708x396_RGB-Les-lignes-directrices-de-prise-en-charge.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"100vw, (min-width:768px) 50vw, (min-width:1200px) 33vw\" alt=\"\">\n                  <\/picture>\n                  <p class=\"post-item__title heading-size-4\">Management guidelines<\/p>\n                                  <\/a>\n              <\/div>\n                      <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n    \n\n\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle__container theme-block is-style-subtitle-big aligndefault \"\n    >\n\n\n    <div class=\"title-with-subtitle__innerblocks-container\">\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle theme-block alignfull is-style-heading-size-2 aligndefault has-text-align-left\"\n    >\n   <h2>              <span class=\"title-with-subtitle__subtitle\">\n          Am I at risk of developing        <\/span>\n      \n              breast cancer?            <\/h2>  <\/section>\n\n<\/div>\n\n  <\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Despite scientific and medical advances, the causes of breast cancer are still poorly understood. According to experts, breast cancer is a multifactorial disease, meaning that there is no single cause or trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Studies have shown significant evidence that certain factors increase the risk, i.e., the likelihood of developing breast cancer during one\u2019s lifetime. Although gender and age are the predominant risk factors for breast cancer, other factors can affect this risk as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to note that some people who develop the disease have no known risk factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Known risk factors can be divided into the following categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Risk factors associated with personal traits<\/strong>: being born female, advancing in age, having high breast density.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Risk factors associated with medical history and heredity<\/strong>: having been exposed to ionizing radiation at a young age, having atypical hyperplasia, having already been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, having a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, being a carrier of genetic mutations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hormonal and reproductive risk factors<\/strong>: being young at the onset of menstruation (before the age of 12), experiencing late menopause (after the age of 55), prolonged use of hormones (estrogen and progesterone \u2013 treatment to reduce the effects of menopause, hormonal contraceptives, <a href=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-in-2slgbtqia-people\/\">gender-affirming therapy<\/a>), having a late first pregnancy (after the age of 30) or no full-term pregnancy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Risk factors associated with lifestyle and environment<\/strong>: drinking alcohol, being sedentary and\/or physically inactive, being overweight or obese as an adult<sup>1<\/sup>, smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle__container theme-block is-style-subtitle-big aligndefault \"\n    >\n\n\n    <div class=\"title-with-subtitle__innerblocks-container\">\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle theme-block alignfull is-style-heading-size-2 aligndefault has-text-align-left\"\n    >\n   <h2>              <span class=\"title-with-subtitle__subtitle\">\n          Risk factors associated with        <\/span>\n      \n              personal traits            <\/h2>  <\/section>\n\n<\/div>\n\n  <\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>Breasts are said to be dense when they contain more connective tissue (between the glands and ducts), glands and milk ducts than fatty (adipose) tissue. Breast density can only be determined by mammogram, which distinguishes between radiopaque dense tissue (white) and radiolucent fatty tissue (grey).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordions-group theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordions<\/span>\n  \n    \n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Being born a woman<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>Being born a woman is in itself a risk factor for breast cancer, since more than 99% of cases develop in women. The disease appears in men in about 1% of cases, and they\u2019re often over 60 years old. Learn more about male breast cancer <a href=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/male-breast-cancer\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Growing old<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>The risk of breast cancer increases with age. The longer a woman lives, the greater the likelihood that she will one day develop the disease. This type of cancer is more common among women between the ages of 50 and 69; however, nearly 15% of cases occur in women under 50. About 20% of cases are diagnosed in women over 70.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Having a high breast density<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>The risk of breast cancer increases with age. The longer a woman lives, the greater the likelihood that she will one day develop the disease. This type of cancer is more common among women between the ages of 50 and 69; however, nearly 15% of cases occur in women under 50. About 20% of cases are diagnosed in women over 70.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"477\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Sein-densite_en.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14548\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Sein-densite_en.jpg 477w, https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Sein-densite_en-300x163.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Women with dense breasts are more likely to develop breast cancer. While breast density decreases with age and after the menopause, it can be affected by lifestyle; for example, use of hormone replacement therapy, a late first pregnancy, no pregnancy, and alcohol consumption can all increase breast density.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle__container theme-block is-style-subtitle-big aligndefault \"\n    >\n\n\n    <div class=\"title-with-subtitle__innerblocks-container\">\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle theme-block alignfull is-style-heading-size-2 aligndefault has-text-align-left\"\n    >\n   <h2>              <span class=\"title-with-subtitle__subtitle\">\n          Risk factors associated with medical        <\/span>\n      \n              history and heredity            <\/h2>  <\/section>\n\n<\/div>\n\n  <\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordions-group theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordions<\/span>\n  \n    \n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Having received radiation or ionizing rays<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>Having received radiation or ionizing rays for medical treatment is a risk factor for breast cancer. The risk is higher if the treatment was administered with chemotherapy during puberty or before the age of 15.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Having atypical hyperplasia<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>Women with atypical hyperplasia, a benign (non-cancerous) condition in which there are more abnormal (atypical) cells in the breast tissue, are at greater risk of developing breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Previous diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>People who have already had breast cancer have at greater risk of developing it again, either in the same breast or the other. People who\u2019ve had ovarian cancer may also be at higher risk of developing breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Family history of breast or ovarian cancer<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>The risk increases if one or more family members, on either the mother\u2019s or father\u2019s side, have had breast or ovarian cancer, particularly if the cancer was diagnosed in a woman before menopause. In addition, a woman\u2019s risk increases with the number of first-degree relatives (father, mother, sister or daughter) who have had breast or ovarian cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The risk is lower when it is second-degree relatives (grandmother, aunt or niece), but higher if the family member had cancer in both breasts (bilateral breast cancer) before menopause. The following family histories are also considered risk factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two or more family members who have had breast or ovarian cancer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One family member who has had both breast and ovarian cancer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One male family member who has had breast cancer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that most of those affected have no family history of the disease. Be aware: if there\u2019s a history of breast cancer in your family, speak to your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go <a href=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-risk-factors\/genetics-educational-video-capsules\/\">here<\/a> to view our educational videos on hereditary breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are concerned about the risk of breast cancer linked to a personal or family history, don\u2019t hesitate to speak to your doctor. They can assess your personal risk of breast cancer and refer you to a genetic counsellor if they feel it\u2019s necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Being a carrier of genetic mutations<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>The genes we inherit can mutate over generations, increasing the risk of developing cancer. Maternal and paternal genetic mutations have a 50% probability of being passed on to children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Around 10% of breast cancer cases are attributable to a known genetic mutation. Go <a href=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-risk-factors\/genetics-and-breast-cancer\/\">here<\/a> to find out more about genetics and breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The genes that are most known to be associated with breast cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2. Mutations in these genes make some women more likely to develop the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mutations in other genes (ATM, CDH1, CHEK2, BARD1, MRE11A, MSH6, NBN, PALB2, PMS2, RAD50, RAD51C, RAD51D, NF1, or SEC23B) have also been associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain other rare inherited genetic disorders also increase the risk of breast cancer: Li-Fraumeni syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia, PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PTHS) and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Major studies are being done to better characterize which mutations, or combinations of them, might increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Eventually, it may be possible to determine risk levels based on genetic profile, enabling individual assessment and personalized screening strategies based on that level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See the website of the <a href=\"https:\/\/etudeperspective.ca\/evaluation-personnalisee-du-risque\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PERSPECTIVE<\/a> study, funded by the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (in French only).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are a carrier of a genetic mutation, find out more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nccn.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)<\/a> risk-management guidelines for people with a hereditary risk for cancer <a href=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-risk-factors\/management-guidelines\/\">here.<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-risk-factors\/#_msocom_2\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any questions about genetics and breast cancer risk, contact Nathalie Bolduc, a certified genetic counsellor, at <a href=\"mailto:nbolduc@rubanrose.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nbolduc@rubanrose.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle__container theme-block is-style-subtitle-big aligndefault \"\n    >\n\n\n    <div class=\"title-with-subtitle__innerblocks-container\">\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle theme-block alignfull is-style-heading-size-2 aligndefault has-text-align-left\"\n    >\n   <h2>              <span class=\"title-with-subtitle__subtitle\">\n          Hormonal and reproductive        <\/span>\n      \n              risk factors            <\/h2>  <\/section>\n\n<\/div>\n\n  <\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the main risk factors is the effect of certain hormones (estrogen and progesterone), especially estrogen, which is thought to promote the development of certain types of breast cancer. Consequently, anything that increases the amount of estrogen in the body or the duration of exposure to this hormone is a risk factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordions-group theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordions<\/span>\n  \n    \n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Being young at the onset of menstruation<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>The onset of menstruation at a young age, before the age of 12, lengthens the duration of exposure to estrogen and other hormones and therefore increases the risk of breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Experiencing late menopause<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>The later menopause occurs, for example after age 55, the longer a woman is exposed to estrogen during her lifetime, and this increases the risk for breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Prolonged use of hormones (estrogen and progesterone)<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>Doctors may prescribe a treatment called hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to reduce severe effects of menopause. This treatment is sometimes combined with another hormone: progestin, which is a synthetic form of progesterone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While HRT generally succeeds in relieving women of the undesirable effects of menopause, it is believed to increase the risk of breast cancer since it contains estrogen, a hormone linked to the disease. Studies have shown that the risk of developing breast cancer increases after using hormone replacement therapy for five years, and even more so if it also contains progestin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The increased risk seems to disappear a few years after the treatment ends; however, many researchers believe that the risks of long-term use of HRT in combination with progestin outweigh the benefits of this treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Women struggling with severe effects of menopause therefore need to decide, with the help of their doctor, what is the best choice for their health: to take HRT or not, based the severity of undesirable symptoms and their personal risk factors for breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of their choice, it is highly recommended that pre- and post-menopausal women discuss their personal risk for breast cancer with a doctor, observe their chest and breasts, and follow <a href=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/screening-and-diagnosis\/breast-cancer-screening\/\">screening<\/a> recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contraceptives that contain estrogen and progesterone also slightly increase the risk of breast cancer, especially for women who have used them for 10 years or more. This said, the increased risk ceases once the use of hormonal contraceptives is stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking estrogen and progesterone as part of gender-affirming therapy is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. For more information, see <a href=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/inform-me\/prevention-and-awareness\/breast-cancer-in-2slgbtqia-people\/\">breast cancer in 2SLGBTQIA+ people<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Having a late first pregnancy or no full-term pregnancy<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>During pregnancy, a woman\u2019s breast cells temporarily stop being exposed to circulating estrogen; therefore, the more pregnancies a woman has, the less she is exposed to this hormone linked to breast cancer, as opposed to women who have not had any children or have not carried any pregnancies to term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, women whose first pregnancy is after the age of 30 have a slightly higher risk than women whose first full-term pregnancy is at a younger age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, according to several studies, breastfeeding is considered to be a protective factor against breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle__container theme-block is-style-subtitle-big aligndefault \"\n    >\n\n\n    <div class=\"title-with-subtitle__innerblocks-container\">\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle theme-block alignfull is-style-heading-size-2 aligndefault has-text-align-left\"\n    >\n   <h2>              <span class=\"title-with-subtitle__subtitle\">\n          Lifestyle and environmental        <\/span>\n      \n              risk factors            <\/h2>  <\/section>\n\n<\/div>\n\n  <\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to genetic or biological risk factors, certain behaviours or lifestyle habits can increase the risk of breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordions-group theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordions<\/span>\n  \n    \n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Drinking alcohol<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>Alcohol consumption increases the risk of breast cancer, regardless of the type consumed. There is no safe amount of alcohol, and the risk increases proportionally with the amount you drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two possible reasons to explain the link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of breast cancer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Alcohol may increase levels of estrogen, a hormone associated with breast cancer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alcohol may also reduce essential nutrients that protect against cell damage, such as folic acid, a type of vitamin B, and vitamins A and C.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It is therefore advisable to limit your alcohol consumption. The less you drink, the more you limit your risk. To learn more about this topic, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-05\/CGAH-Drinking-Less-is-Better-en.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Canada\u2019s Guidance on Alcohol and Health<\/a> and the blog post <a href=\"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/blog\/alcohol-breast-cancer\/\">Alcohol and breast cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Being sedentary and\/or physically inactive <\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>Research indicates that not exercising is a risk factor for breast cancer. Conversely, studies show a link between regular physical activity and a reduced risk of developing the disease. Doing 150 minutes of moderate-to-high intensity physical activity a week reduces the risk of developing breast cancer by 25%. At the same time, it\u2019s also important to limit sedentary behaviour (time spent sitting or lying down).<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Being overweight or obese as an adult<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>Being overweight or obese<sup>1<\/sup> increases the risk of developing breast cancer in postmenopausal women. After menopause, fatty tissue produces a small amount of estrogen, and an increase in this hormone is associated with breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<div class=\"block-accordion  theme-block theme-block--innerblock aligndefault\">\n    <span class=\"theme-block__label\">Accordion<\/span>\n    <h4 class=\"block-accordion__title\">Smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke<\/h4>\n    \n\n<p>Recent studies have shown that active smoking increases the risk of breast cancer. There\u2019s also a link between exposure to second-hand smoke and breast cancer, but the evidence is most convincing in young or premenopausal women who have never smoked.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle__container theme-block is-style-subtitle-big aligndefault \"\n    >\n\n\n    <div class=\"title-with-subtitle__innerblocks-container\">\n  <section class=\"title-with-subtitle theme-block alignfull is-style-heading-size-2 aligndefault has-text-align-left\"\n    >\n   <h2>              <span class=\"title-with-subtitle__subtitle\">\n          Breast cancer risk        <\/span>\n      \n              assessment tools            <\/h2>  <\/section>\n\n<\/div>\n\n  <\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>There are tools available to estimate your risk of developing breast cancer, taking into account a number of factors. This said, your doctor remains the primary resource for assessing your personal risk and making personalized recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/bcrisktool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool: Online Calculator (The Gail Model)<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cedars-sinai.org\/health-library\/risk-assessments\/breast-cancer-risk-assessment.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Breast Health Assessment Tool| Cedars-Sinai<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about the various risk factors for breast cancer, watch our educational video that explains other risk factors for breast cancer: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5_FDnmL0kJY&amp;t=1s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Autres facteurs de risque de cancer du sein<\/a> (in French only).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sup>1<\/sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/obesity-and-overweight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Overweight and obesity<\/a> are medical terms that refer to a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30 and 30 or higher, respectively. While these terms may be perceived as stigmatizing for some people, our content is based on research data and we use them in a neutral and respectful way only when necessary.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>References\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Canadian Cancer Society\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National cancer institute\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Institut national de sant\u00e9 publique du Qu\u00e9bec\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>World Health Organization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite scientific and medical advances, the causes of breast cancer are still poorly understood. According to experts, breast cancer is a multifactorial disease, meaning that there is no single cause or trigger. Studies have shown significant evidence that certain factors increase the risk, i.e., the likelihood of developing breast cancer during one\u2019s lifetime. Although gender&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13801,"parent":4106,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"1433,1555,1394,1368,1523,1532","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"service":[],"persona":[],"class_list":["post-4177","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4177\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4106"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"service","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service?post=4177"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=4177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}