Risk factors of breast cancer:
Risk factors which cannot be changed: These include age over 50, early age onset of menstrual periods, genetic factors, and family history of not only breast cancer but also ovarian, uterine, or colon cancers.
Modifiable risk factors of breast cancer:
Risk factors that can be modified include obesity, use of hormone replacement therapy, radiation exposure, any use of alcohol, women without history of childbirth, women giving birth to children only after age 30, and exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage (given in the mid-1900s).
Alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (BrCa). In a cohort study of 70,033 women, 2,829 developed BrCa. Risk of BrCa significantly increased at a total alcohol consumption starting at 1-2 drinks/day. Specifically, at 1-2 drinks/day risk of BrCa increased by 21% (RR=1.21, p=0.01) and at > or = 3 drinks/d risk increased by 38% (RR=1.38, p=0.002). Increased BrCa risk was concentrated in women with estrogen receptor positive tumours. Estrogen is a female sex hormone that stimulates some breast cancers to grow by triggering particular proteins (receptors) in the cancer cells. Choice of wine, liquor, beer or type of wine (red, white, etc) had no major impact on results. (1)
