What Causes Breast Cancer?

What Causes Breast Cancer?
There is no one thing that causes breast cancer, but there are some common factors that seem to increase the risk of developing it. One of the most common risk factors of being diagnosed with breast cancer is being a female. As a woman or man ages, the incidence of breast cancer increases.
Family history also plays a role in whether an individual will develop breast cancer. If any immediate family members have been diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause, there may be a higher risk of developing the disease.
There are also two genes that are associated with breast cancer: BRCA1 and BRCA2. These two genes are associated with about 5-10% of all breast cancer cases, and women who test positive for one of these genes may have a higher risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. BRCA2 is associated with male breast cancer. It is possible to be tested for these genes.