The risk of breast cancer is greater than average in women who have had lobular carcinoma in situ. Also, women who have had breast cancer face an increased risk of getting breast cancer again. The risk is also greater in women who had their first child after the age of 30 and those who never had children. These factors are all related to a woman's natural hormones. Scientists hope to find the answer to this important question by studying a large number of women taking part in hormone-related research.
Many women are concerned about benign breast conditions.
However, women who have had breast biopsies that show certain benign changes in breast tissues, such as atypical hyperplasia, do have an increased risk of breast cancer. Scientists are exploring other possible risk factors for breast cancer. For example, research is in progress to determine whether the risk of breast cancer is affected by environmental factors. Pesticides, electromagnetic fields, engine exhausts, and contaminants in water and food are some of the environmental factors under study. Some aspects of a woman's lifestyle may affect her chances of developing breast cancer.