Breast
Cancer Risk Factors
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
What factors may increase the risk of having breast cancer?
Non-Preventable:
BRCA genes
 Inherited defects
Increasing age
 Increases estrogen exposure (premenopausal)
 Impairs immune function
(postmenopausal)
Preventable:
Alcohol
 Impairs liver function which then increases estrogen exposure
Cigarette smoking
 Damages DNA
Contraceptive steroids
 Increases estrogen exposure
Hormone replacement therapy
 Increases estrogen exposure
Induced abortion
 Increases estrogen exposure
 Leaves increased number of immature breast lobules
What factors may decrease breast cancer risk?
 Breast feeding
 Cruciferous vegetables
(e.g. broccoli, Brussels sprouts)
 Exercise
SOURCE:
Factors which increase and decrease breast cancer risk. (2011). Breast Cancer Prevention Institute.
<http://www.bcpinstitute.org/FactSheets/Increase-decrease-table-english.pdf >
Did You Know?
Breast Cancer: Did you know?
 Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among woman.
 1 in 3 women diagnosed with cancer will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
 Breast cancer occurs more frequently in non-hispanic white women than in
other racial/ethnic demographics.
 97% of breast cancer deaths occur in women age 40 or older.
In 2011, American Cancer Society research reported:*

57,650 in situ cases
Cancer is isolated in the ducts or lobules.

230,580 invasive cases
Cancer invades surrounding tissue of breast.

39,520 people died from breast cancer.
SOURCE: Breast cancer: Facts & figures 2011-2012. (2012). American Cancer Society. ,
<http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-030975.pdf
Here is what is being said about abortion and breast cancer:
“Induced abortion before the first term pregnancy increases the risk of breast cancer.”
(government scientists in a letter published in Lancet, February 1986)
“Interruption during the first trimester of a first pregnancy causes a cessation of cell
differentiation, which may result in a subsequent increase in the risk of cancerous
growth in tissues.” (Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 1994)
“Abortion interrupts the natural process of breast development, leaving the breast with
more cells that can become cancerous. Elevated levels of estrogen, starting early in
pregnancy, cause normal and pre-cancerous cells to multiply and stimulate the breasts
to swell. Third trimester hormones of a full-term pregnant change cells into cancerresistant, milk-producing tissue and turn off their growth (and cancer-forming)
potential.” (The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, 2009)