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Reproductive and menstrual history:
- The older a woman is when she has her first child, the greater her chance of breast cancer.
- Women who began menstruation (had their first menstrual period) at an early age (before age 12), went through menopause late (after age 55), or never had children also are at an increased risk.
- Women who take menopausal hormone therapy (either estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin) for 5 or more years after menopause also appear to have an increased chance of developing breast cancer.
- Much research has been done to learn whether having an abortion or a miscarriage affects a woman's chance of developing breast cancer later on. Large, well-designed studies have consistently shown no link between abortion or miscarriage and the development of breast cancer.
Race: Breast cancer occurs more often in white women than Latina, Asian, or African American women.
Breast density: Older women who have mostly dense (not fatty) tissue on a mammogram (x-ray of the breast) are at increased risk of breast cancer.
Taking DES (diethylstilbestrol): DES is a synthetic form of estrogen that was given to some pregnant women in the United States between about 1940 and 1971. (DES is no longer given to pregnant women.) Women who took DES during pregnancy have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. This does not yet appear to be the case for their daughters who were exposed to DES before birth. However, as these daughters grow older, more studies of their breast cancer risk are needed.
Being obese after menopause: After menopause, women who are obese have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Being obese means that the woman has an abnormally high proportion of body fat.
Physical inactivity: Women who are physically inactive throughout life appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer. Being physically active may help to reduce risk by preventing weight gain and obesity.
Alcoholic beverages: Some studies suggest that the more alcoholic beverages a woman drinks, the greater her risk of breast cancer.
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