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Facts About Breast Cancer:
Who Is At Risk?
• The exact causes of breast cancer are not known. However, studies show that the risk of breast cancer increases as a woman gets older.
• Most breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50, and the risk is especially high for women over age 60.
Risk Factors:
• Family History: A woman's risk for developing breast cancer increases when her mother, sister or daughter has had breast cancer, especially at a young age.
• Late Childbearing: Women who have their first child late (after age 30) have a greater chance of developing breast cancer than women who have a child at a younger age.
• Estrogen: Evidence suggests that the longer a woman is exposed to estrogen (estrogen made by the body, taken as a drug, or delivered by a patch) the more likely she is to develop breast cancer.
• Alcohol: Some studies suggest a slightly higher risk of breast cancer is among women who have more than two alcoholic beverages in one day.
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