Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (118 page)

A late menopause (after 55).

Having no children or having them late in life.

Taking the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Being overweight (especially after menopause).

A strong family history of breast cancer.

Carrying a breast cancer gene (this accounts for fewer than 10 percent of breast cancer cases).

Eating a high saturated-fat diet.

Regularly drinking more than one unit of alcohol per day.

Cigarette smoking.

Having dense breast tissue.

Having certain benign breast conditions such as atypical hyperplasia.

Radiation exposure.

SYMPTOMS

A lump in the breast or armpit.

Change in size or shape of the breast.