How can I reduce my risk of breast cancer?

Many things affect our risk of developing breast cancer. Some of these things we can’t change, like the genes we inherit or getting older, but our lifestyles can play a part too.

But there are some things we can change to help stack the odds in our favour. Leading a healthy lifestyle – by limiting how much you drink, keeping to a healthy weight and being physically active – isn’t a guarantee against breast cancer, but it can help lower the chances of the disease developing.

We also know that taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the combined contraceptive pill can affect your risk of breast cancer. Many women make an informed choice to use HRT or the pill, but you may like to consider the risks before you make a decision.