All other benign conditions, including fibroadenomas, fibrocystic change, cysts etc, do confer any clinically important increase in risk. For those women who start menstruating early or who have a late natural or surgical menopause, the risk of breast cancer is increased. It is thought that the increased exposure to oestrogens is responsible for this. Hormone Replacement Therapy Taking hormone replacement therapy for 10 -15 years increases the risk of breast cancer somewhat. However, this has to be weighed against the benefits of HRT on the heart and osteoporosis.
Western countries have a far higher incidence and mortality than countries such as Japan.
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