Therefore, the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer will continue to increase. Improved early detection also contributes to the increased number of 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.
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. Other studies suggest 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. Currently, breast cancer cannot be prevented.