1. Cancer may run in families. The risk for breast cancer increases for a woman if one or more of her family members suffer from the disease.

  2. Women who begin menstruating before the age of 12 years or stop after 55 years are more at risk for developing breast cancer.

  3. Women who have not borne children or have had children late in their life (usually after the age of 30) are also more at risk.

  4. Obesity or overweight is a condition that is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

  5. Other factors like excessive drinking of alcohol and lack of exercise are also risk factors for breast cancer.