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Why do some people get breast cancer and others don't has been researched for years.  Is it fate or is there some science behind it?  Do some people have a higher risk factor than others?  To answer these questions it  is important to know what it really is and how is it formed.  Cancer  is caused when cells multiply and grow uncontrollably damaging the normal tissue and interfering with the normal function of the breast.  As with all parts of the body new cells form and old cells die in the breast. However, sometimes too many new cells are formed and old ones do not die. This forms a lump or tumor. Not all tumors are cancerous, some are benign.  Not just in breast cancer but also other forms of cancer too, it is believed that everyone has cells that can become cancerous; however, it takes a trigger like a weakened immune system to set the process in motion.  For example, excess weight, illnesses, stress, poor diet, environmental factors (chemicals) etc.  

There are two main types: Ductal carcinoma that starts in the tubes (ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are this type. The second type, Lobular carcinoma, starts in the lobules, which produce the milk.

It is 100 times more frequent in women than in men, but survival rates are equal. In 2004, it accounted for 7% of all deaths and 1% of cancer deaths. Women in the United States have the highest incidence rates  in the world; 141 among white women and 122 among African American women. Women in the US have a 1 in 8 lifetime chance of developing invasive breast cancer and a 1 in 35 chance of it causing their death.

The most common sign is a lump found in the breast either by mammogram or a monthly self exam. Other less common signs are a change in the size or shape of the breast or nipple, or fluid coming from the nipple.  There are certain risk factors that you can not change.  For example:  Simply being a woman increases your change.  Aging increases your chances of having the disease. Your risk of developing it increases with age. About 1 out of 8 invasive breast cancers are found in women younger than 45, while about 2 out of 3 are found in women age 55 or older. Genetic risks, about 5-10% of cases are considered to be from a gene passed on from a parent.  Race and ethnicity also plays a role. White women are slightly more likely to get this kind of  cancer; however, African American women are more likely to die of the disease.

There are also certain risk factors that are uncertain or haven't been completely proven but certainly are worth mentioning.

1. Studies have not shown that a high fat diet is a cause; however, countries with low fat diets have a significant drop in occurrences than Americans. More research is needed to better understand the effect of the types of fat eaten on its risk  .It is clear that calories do count, and fat is a major source of these. High-fat diets can lead to being overweight or obese, which is a risk factor.

2. Email rumors have stated that antiperspirant causes cancer.  One small study has found trace levels of parabens (used as preservatives in antiperspirants and other products), which have weak estrogen-like properties, in a small sample of the tumors. However, the study did not look at whether parabens caused the tumors. Again, more research is needed to have a definite answer on this.

 3. Chemicals in the environment.  Now I know you've heard it all, but again right now more research is needed to prove or disprove things such as chemicals with estrogen-like properties, which could in theory affect the cancer risk.  These toxins and parabens are found in certain cosmetics and personal care products, pesticides (such as DDE), and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).