A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease, such as breast cancer.  Different cancers may have different risk factors.  These risk factors do not tell us everything, and having one or more risk factors does not mean a woman will develop breast cancer.  Some risk factors for breast cancer cannot be changed while others can be modified or reduced through healthy lifestyle choices.  The video below reviews some of the data associated with a few of these risk factors.

The American Cancer Society’s website has additional information on some of the most common risk factors associated with breast cancer.  You may find more information at http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-risk-factors.