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About Breast Cancer > What is Breast Cancer? > Causes of Breast Cancer

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    • Does a family history of breast cancer put someone at a higher risk?
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Causes of Breast Cancer


Protect Your Health

Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime? While you can’t usually prevent cancer, it is important to be proactive about your health. Get the free Healthy Living and Personal Risk Guide to help you protect your overall health and assess your breast cancer risk.

Where can we send your copy of this helpful guide?


Causes Of Breast Cancer: How Did This Happen? 

When you’re told that you have breast cancer, it’s natural to wonder what may have caused the disease. But no one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors seldom know why one woman develops breast cancer and another doesn’t, and most women who have breast cancer will never be able to pinpoint an exact cause. What we do know is that breast cancer is always caused by damage to a cell’s DNA.


Known Risk Factors

Women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors (such as drinking alcohol) can be avoided. But most risk factors (such as having a family history of breast cancer) can’t be avoided. Having a risk factor does not mean that a woman will get breast cancer. Many women who have risk factors never develop breast cancer.

Medically Reviewed on April 15, 2020


Detecting Breast Cancer Earlier

Breast cancer can’t usually be prevented, but you can take three important steps to help detect it earlier. The free resource, 3 Steps to Early Detection, can increase your chance of finding breast cancer before it spreads.

Tell us where we can send you your copy.


Related reading:

  • What Is Cancer?
  • Breast Cancer Facts
  • Breast Tumors
  • Breast Anatomy
  • Male Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Facts
What Is Cancer?
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