Breast cancer is a condition that popularly affects women. It affects 1 in 8 women and the number is rapidly increasing. And although found in more women, men too can be affected by this condition. The breast cancer is one that forms in the cells of the breast. There are several symptoms that are related to this condition. Breast cancer passes through 4 stages and the symptoms will vary. While stage 1 symptoms may be mild, stage 4 breast cancer symptoms include nipple discharge, developing of breast lumps, skin scaling and more.

Stage 4 breast cancer symptoms may be last warning and the cancer is more likely to spread to other parts of the body. There is no answer to what is the exact cause of breast cancer, however, there are several risk factors that may trigger the onset and lead to condition to stage 4 without an individual getting to know. Here are a few factors that are believed to lead to breast cancer:

Body weight – Women tend to put on weight after menopause and this causes an increase in the levels of estrogen in the body. Thus, there is a higher chance of overweight women developing breast cancer. Not just after menopause, but being overweight can trigger the chances of being affected.

Alcohol – Alcohol does more harm to an individual’s body than good. Here is yet another reason why you should watch your alcohol consumption level. Regular consumption of alcohol can play a role in developing breast cancer. According to studies, consuming more than 3 glasses of alcohol in a day can put you at a higher risk of suffering from breast cancer.

Age – Age is yet another factor that is likely to cause breast cancer in women. It is believed that a woman is at a higher risk of suffering from breast cancer. A woman is more likely to be susceptible after crossing the age bar of 50 years.

Occupation – If a woman is in an occupation where in she is exposed to certain carcinogens, there be a strong link to breast cancer. Thus, one should consider the environment in which they work.

Inheritance – Although this may be in a very rare case, a woman’s developing cancer can be linked to genes that are passed through generations. It can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer and one should go through blood test if they have a strong family history of breast cancer.

Most of the above risk factors are preventable. If you notice the occurrence of breast cancer symptoms, you should visit the doctor immediately.