Breast cancer, like other forms of cancer, is considered to be the final outcome of a legion of environmental and hereditary factors. However, the exact cause is not known. It is suspected that more than one factor is involved. Also the risk of breast cancer increases, as a woman gets older.

Personal history of breast cancer: Women who have had breast cancer face an increased risk of getting breast cancer in their other breast.

Family history: A woman's risk for developing breast cancer increases if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer, especially at a young age.

Late childbearing: Women who have their first child late (after about age 30) have a greater chance of developing breast cancer than women who have a child at a younger age.

Early Menstruation and Late Menopause: Women who started their menstrual periods early (before age 12) or go through menopause late (after age 55) are at higher risk.

Breast density: Breasts that have a high proportion of lobular and ductal tissue appear dense on mammograms. Making it more difficult for doctors to see abnormal areas on a mammogram. Breast cancers nearly always develop in lobular or ductal tissue (not fatty tissue). That's why cancer is more likely to occur in breasts that have more lobular and ductal tissue (that is, dense tissue) than in breasts with more fatty tissue.

Obesity is a controversial risk factor: Some studies report obesity individuals have a higher risk of breast cancer, possibly associated with higher levels of estrogen production in obese women.

Radiation therapy: Women whose breasts were exposed to radiation before age 30, especially those who were treated with radiation for Hodgkin's disease, are at an increased risk for developing breast cancer. Studies show that the younger a woman is, while receiving radiation treatment, the higher her risk for developing breast cancer later in life.

Factors such as ionizing radiations and virus are belived to play a major role in bringing about these mutations

Alcohol: Some studies suggest a slightly higher risk of breast cancer among women who drink alcohol (more than 3 drinks a day).

Oral Contraceptives (birth control pills): Birth control pills may slightly increase the risk for breast cancer, depending on age, length of use, and other factors.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: More than 5 years of use has been shown to slightly increase the risk of breast cancer and it is found to increase with longer periods of usage.

Estrogen pills: Women consuming diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage may have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Chemicals: Some studies have pointed to exposure to estrogen - like chemicals that are found in pesticides and other industrial products as a possible increased risk of breast cancer.

Gene mutations are belived to play the vital role in causing breast cancer. A mutation in the tumor suppressor genes (TSG) BRCA 1 and BRCA2 are implicated in 95% of familial breast cancers.These mutations increase a person’s risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer by 30-40%

Another TSG, p53, is also implicated in breast cancer

Abnormal growth factors and faulty immune surveillance are also known to cause breast cancer

Enviornmental / Lifestyle factors implicated are:-

- a diet high in saturated fat and diary products

- obesity

- alcohol intake / tobacco usage

- change in workshift patterns