Breast cancer is a disease that has been affecting women all over the world. It can strike at any age, but it is more common in women between the ages of 40 and 60 years old. Breast cancer occurs when cells from the breast grow abnormally and become cancerous. There are two types of breast cancer: invasive and non-invasive. The invasive type spreads to other parts of the body through the blood or lymph nodes. The non-invasive type does not spread to other parts of the body.

The causes of breast cancer are still not known. However, there are some factors that may increase your risk of getting breast cancer. These include:

• * Family history – If you have a close relative who has breast cancer, then you have an increased risk of getting breast cancer yourself.
• * Age – Women between the ages of 20 and 40 years old are more likely to get breast cancer than women in their 60s.
• * Race – African American women have a higher rate of getting breast cancer than Caucasian women.
• * Obesity – Being overweight increases the risk of getting breast cancer.
• * Early menarche – This means that a woman started menstruating before she was 12 years old.
• * Late menopause – This means that a woman has not had her last menstrual period for more than 5 years.
• * Hormonal imbalance – This means that the levels of estrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body are out of balance.
• * Radiation therapy – This means that a woman received radiation treatment to her chest area.
• * Chemotherapy – This means that a woman was given chemotherapy to treat breast cancer.
• * Genetic mutations – This means that a woman’s genetic makeup is different from others.
• * Age at first pregnancy – If a woman has never had a baby, then she has a higher risk of getting breast cancer.

If you have a family history of breast cancer, then you should talk to your doctor about getting screened regularly. Your doctor will also check your breasts regularly to make sure that they look normal. Your doctor will also take a sample of tissue from your breast to be tested for cancer.