Women who started menstruating early (before age 12) and/or went through menopause later (after age 55) have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. The increase in risk may be due to a longer lifetime exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
2. Approximately what percent of all breast cancers are hereditary? What are the genes that are most commonly mutated in hereditary breast cancer?
Approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancers are hereditary. They result directly from gene defects (called mutations) inherited from a parent. The most commonly mutated in hereditary breast cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
3. How does a woman’s weight influence her breast