What are risk factors for breast carcinoma?

➢ Age and Gender : Breast cancer is rare in women younger than age 25, but increases in incidence rapidly after age 30. The incidence in men is only 1% of that in women. ➢ Family History of Breast Cancer : The greatest risk is for individuals with multiple affected first-degree relatives with early-onset breast cancer. ➢ Geographic Factors : The risk is significantly higher in the Americas and Europe than in Asia and Africa ➢ Race/Ethnicity : The highest rate of breast cancer is in women of European descent. Hispanic and African American women tend to develop cancer at a younger age and are more likely to develop aggressive tumors ➢ Reproductive History : Early age of menarche, nulliparity, absence of breastfeeding, and older age at first pregnancy (each increases the exposure of “at-risk” breast epithelial cells to estrogenic stimulation). ➢ Ionizing Radiation : increases the risk of breast cancer if exposure occurs while the breast is still developing. ➢ Other Risk Factors. Postmenopausal obesity, postmenopausal hormone replacement, mammographic density, and alcohol consumption also have been implicated as risk factors.