Risk factors

Researchers have discovered a number of risk factors which increase the chances of someone developing breast cancer:

• Women with a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed with breast cancer have almost double the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer themselves.

• Obesity increases risk of post-menopausal breast cancer by up to 30 per cent.

• Using HRT increases the risk of breast cancer by 66 per cent. n The risk of breast cancer in oral contraceptive users is increased by around 25 per cent.

• Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. Cancer Research UK says as little as one alcoholic drink per day increases risk by around 12 per cent.