Risks and causes of breast cancer
Research shows that keeping a healthy weight reduces the risk of at least 13 different types of cancer including breast cancer. Ways to keep a healthy weight include being physically active and eating a healthy, balanced diet.
Research also shows that cutting down the amount of alcohol you drink lowers your risk of developing breast cancer. There is no safe level of alcohol, so the more you cut down the more you can reduce your risk.
Find out more about the causes of cancer and how you can reduce your risk
Being very physically active can reduce your risk of breast cancer as it can help you to keep a healthy weight. But it can also reduce the risk of breast cancer in ways not related to weight.
Activity can include anything that makes you a bit warmer and slightly out of breath and your heart beating faster. The reduced risk is possibly because exercise lowers levels of , and in the body.
Breastfeeding lowers the risk of developing breast cancer. The longer you breastfeed the more the risk is reduced.
It is not completely clear why this is. But the reduced risk might be because the don't produce eggs so often during breastfeeding. Or it might be because breastfeeding changes the cells in the breast so they might be more resistant to changes that lead to cancer. Researchers are looking into how breast feeding reduces the risk of breast cancer.
Research has shown that women who regularly take aspirin or other medicines have a slightly lower risk of developing breast cancer. There are trials in progress that will give us more information in the future.
Remember that aspirin can irritate the lining of your stomach and cause bleeding. So you should talk to your GP before starting to take any medicine regularly.
You shouldn't take these medicines if you have any history of stomach ulcers.
Whether you can have children or when you have them may not be something you can control.
Having children and in particular having a child at younger age may slightly lower your risk of developing breast cancer. The risk gets lower the more children you have.
Risk factors for breast cancer
Some people who have family members with breast cancer have a higher risk of developing it compared to the general population. There are medicines and surgical treatments that can help to reduce the risk of breast cancer for those at a higher risk.
Read more about family history and ways to manage your risk of breast cancer
Last reviewed: 30 Jun 2026
Next review due: 30 Jun 2029
Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the breast tissue. It’s the most common cancer in the UK. It mainly affects women, but men can get it too.
Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or changes in the size, shape or feel of your breast. See your GP if you have any of these symptoms or any other symptoms of breast cancer.
You usually start by seeing your GP. Your GP will examine you and may refer you to a specialist breast clinic. Or you may have had breast changes picked up through breast screening.
Treatment for breast cancer depends on a number of factors. The main treatments are surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted and immunotherapy drugs.
Your risk of developing breast cancer depends on many factors. These include your age, genetics and lifestyle factors.
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