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Genetic
Risk Factors
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Some
people believe that they inherit breast
cancer, but the actual situation is more
complex. Damage to DNA causes breast cancer
and this damage is both inborn and accumulated.
Click
here
for a complete discussion of inherited
and accumulated risk factors.
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Relative
Risk
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1.0
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No
family history |
1.5
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Post
menopausal, first-degree relative |
1.8
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First-degree
relative with breast cancer |
3.0
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Pre-menopausal,
first degree relative |
4.0
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Post
menopausal, first-degree relative with bilateral
breast cancer |
9.0
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Pre-menopausal,
first-degree relative with bilateral breast
cancer |
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Personal
History
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The
personal history of a patient can reveal
other correlative risk factors. An increased
incidence of breast cancer is associated
with:
- colon
cancer
- thyroid
cancer
- endometrial
cancer
- ovarian
cancer
Alcohol,
prescription drugs, and exposure to hormones
such as birth control pills, corticosteroid
topicals can also affect the clinical picture. |
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Other
Risk Factors
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 |
Diet
- Lower breast cancer incidents in cultures with diets low
in animal fats, high in beta-carotenes, and retinoids.
Alcohol
- Increased risk associates with two or
more alcoholic drinks per day
Hormone
replacement - Increased risk for long-term
users of cyclical estrogen and high estrogen
content oral contraceptives
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