Getting older — the older you get, the greater your risk of breast cancer
A personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
Having a mother, daughter or sister who has had breast cancer
Having a previous biopsy showing hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ
being young (<12 years) at the time of your first period
starting menopause after age 55
having an inherited mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer genes
having more than one drink of alcohol per day
being overweight after menopause or gaining weight as an adult
taking birth control pills for 5 years or longer
never having children
having your first child after age 30
currently or recently using combined estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
being exposed to large amounts of radiation, such as having very frequent spine X-rays during scoliosis treatment or treatment for Hodgkin’s disease at a young age