A woman's lifestyle choices may increase her risk of breast cancer. Risks may also be increased by exposure to things in the environment like contaminants in food and water, pesticides, or exhaust fumes. The environment in a woman's workplace may affect risk. Length of exposure is important, since cancer tumors develop after years of exposure to cancer-causing agents.
Some studies show women who drink alcohol have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.
The more alcohol consumed, the higher the risk. Smoking Tobacco is a known carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent, implicated in lung cancer. The role of cigarette smoking as a breast cancer risk factor is still under study, as well as the role of second-hand cigarette smoke. A high-fat diet appears to increase the risk of breast cancer. Older women who are overweight seem to have an increased risk.