Therefore, the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer will continue to increase. Improved early detection also contributes to the increase in new breast cancer cases. Breast cancer is more common among older women. The risk for getting breast cancer increases with age. More than three-quarters of the women who get breast cancer are over the age of fifty.
White women are more likely to get breast cancer than African-American women.
Scientists believe this may be related to delayed childbearing, fewer pregnancies, diet and possibly other factors shared by women in higher income groups. At this time, scientists do not know exactly what causes breast cancer. But we do know that certain personal characteristics increase a woman s chance of developing breast cancer. Studies also show that exposure to high doses of x-rays increases a woman s risk of getting breast cancer. Although scientists are not sure, other studies show that taking birth control pills, exposure to certain chemicals in the environment, hormone replacement therapy , use of alcoholic beverages, diet, obesity and lack of physical activity may increase breast cancer risk.