Doctors do not know exactly what causes breast cancer. But some things are known to increase the chance that you will get it.
These are called risk factors. Risk factors that you cannot change include being a woman, getting older, gene changes and your race and ethnicity.
White women have a slightly higher risk for getting breast cancer than African-American women. Asian, Hispanic, and Native American women have even less risk.
Another factor is having a history of radiation treatment to the chest.
There are also risk factors that you may be able to change. These are risk factors related to your lifestyle, such as using hormone therapy after menopause, lack of physical activity, being overweight or obese, not breast-feeding, not having children or not having children until after the age of 30 and drinking alcoholic beverages.
But many women who have risk factors do not get breast cancer. And many women who get breast cancer do not have any known risk factors other than being women and getting older.
Breast cancer can cause a change in the way the breast feels. The most common symptom is a painless lump or thickening in the breast or underarm.
It can also cause a change in the way the breast looks. The skin on the breast may dimple or look like an orange peel. There may be a change in the size or shape of the breast.
The nipple may turn in and the skin around it may look scaly.
A fluid may come out of the nipple.
See your doctor right away if you notice any of these changes.
Many people think that only women get breast cancer. But about one out of 100 cases of breast cancer occurs in men. So any man who has a breast lump should be checked.
Can breast cancer be prevented?
You cannot control some things that put you at risk for breast cancer, such as your gender and age. But you can change others.
To stay as healthy as you can eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Make exercise a routine part of your life and stay at a healthy weight. Getting regular exerciseand watching what you eat can help.
If you drink alcohol, limit the amount. After menopause, even having one drink a day or less may increase the risk for breast cancer.
Still, there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, so it is very important to have regular examinations and mammograms. Discuss your risk factors with your doctor to find out how often you should have a mammogram.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, ask your doctor about genetic testing. A blood test can check for changes in the BRCA genes that may increase your chance of getting breast and ovarian cancer.
To learn more about breast cancer visit http://Healthwise.org .