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ABOUT BREAST CANCER > What causes breast cancer?
WHAT CAUSES BREAST CANCER?
It is believed that a combination of inherited and environmental causes must be present for breast cancer to develop.
Inherited causes can be thought of as internal factors. They are part of the genetic make-up we received from our parents and do not change through life. Examples are inherited genetic mutations and differences in the way our bodies repair cell DNA after it has been damaged by environmental exposure.
Environmental causes can be thought of as external factors. They affect us throughout the course of our lives. Examples of external factors include level of physical activity, use of hormone therapy and exposure to chemicals that are known to change cell DNA.
The exact causes of breast cancer are not known. Ongoing research is providing more information about how inherited and environmental causes work together to result in the cell DNA changes that lead to breast cancer.
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