Breast Cancer		Environmental Toxins and Chemicals   Does exposure to toxins and chemicals in the environment increase one’s risk of breast cancer ? This is a hotly debated issue. Although there are no definitive studies demonstrating that occupational, environmental, or chemical exposures increase breast cancer risk, there is a mounting body of evidence suggesting that there may be a link. Exposure to the pesticide DDT is thought to increase the risk of breast cancer, because its breakdown products mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. Prolonged estrogen exposure is a known risk factor for breast cancer. Consumption of food from animals that have been injected with hormones (including estrogen) to speed their growth may also be a risk factor. Questions Related to Environmental Toxins and Chemicals Does antibiotic use increase breast cancer risk? What is a risk factor? My mother had breast cancer. Does this mean I am at greater risk? I was diagnosed with breast cancer 7 years ago, but I am now in remission. Am I at a higher risk of getting the disease again in the future? Can benign cysts become cancerous? I have no family history of breast cancer. Why should I worry about getting breast cancer? Is there anything I can do to lower my risk of getting breast cancer? Does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) increase my breast cancer risk? What is the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool? What women are at risk for breast cancer? What risk factors are most important in determining my likelihood of getting breast cancer? If I didn’t nurse my children, am I at greater risk of breast cancer? Do breast implants increase your risk of breast cancer? Does radiation exposure increase your breast cancer risk? What is the connection between estrogen and breast cancer? I have had fertility treatments. Does this increase my risk? If I take birth control pills, am I at greater risk of getting breast cancer? What are phytoestrogens? Do they cause breast cancer? What causes breast cancer? What are the risk factors that put a woman at a higher risk for breast cancer? What risk factors can you control ? What risk factors can you not control? I started menstruating at a very young age. Am I at greater risk of getting breast cancer? If I am overweight, am I at a greater risk of developing breast cancer? I've heard that being overweight before menopause helps lower your risk of breast cancer. Is this true? Is there a link between alcohol and breast cancer? Why does alcohol consumption increase the risk of breast cancer ? Can exercise reduce breast cancer risk? Does a woman's height influence her breast cancer risk? I have never had children. Am I at a greater risk for breast cancer? I started menstruating when I was very young. Does this put me at higher risk? Why does starting menstruation at an earlier age slightly increase your risk of breast cancer? I began menopause later than average. Does this put me at increased risk? Can I inherit breast cancer from my mother or other women in my family? I often experience breast pain. What is this pain? Does the breast pain mean that I am more likely to get breast cancer? I have very lumpy breasts. Does this mean I will develop breast cancer or am at high risk? I’ve been told that I have high breast density. What is high breast density? Does this increase my risk of breast cancer? Are women who have fibrocystic changes in their breasts at higher risk for breast cancer? Is there a link between smoking and breast cancer? Does stress increase your risk of breast cancer? Does abortion increase a woman's risk of breast cancer? Page 1 of 1    | 1 |

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