This resource was developed, reviewed or revised more than 5 years ago and may no longer reflect current evidence or best practice.
As a woman, over the course of your lifetime there are many factors that can influence your risk of breast cancer.
A risk factor is any factor that is associated with an increased chance of developing a certain condition, such as breast cancer. There are different types of risk factors, some of which can be changed or modified, and some which cannot.
It is estimated that around a quarter of breast cancers could potentially be prevented through lifestyle and other changes. Modifiable risk factors are factors that we can change to reduce our risk for breast cancer, for example keeping to a healthy body weight, reducing alcohol consumption and regular physical activity.
A protective factor for breast cancer is a factor that can reduce our risk of developing breast cancer.
On this page you can view factors which have been the subject of studies where the findings have either been inconclusive, or no association with risk has been shown. This may be due to inconsistencies in the studies, or insufficient or poor quality evidence.
If you are worried about your risk of developing breast cancer, see your doctor with any concerns. You can also visit our What you can do page to learn how to be breast aware, know the symptoms to look out for and reduce risk through healthy lifestyle choices.
