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What causes Breast cancer?

Is there anything exactly that causes breast cancer in young women?
Is caffeine a big cause? I love coffee, but I drink alot of it and wonder if caffeine is a factor.

Breast cancer is a common form of cancer among women. While the number one risk factor is simply being female, other risk factors include:

-Age – Breast cancer occurs more often in women over 50 and is less common in pre-menopausal women. Nearly 80 percent of all newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer cases occur in women aged 50 and older, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

-Family History – Women with family history of breast cancer have a greater risk of developing the disease. The risk is highest when the breast cancer occurs in a first-degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) and when the cancer occurs before age 50. A family history of Ovarian Cancer also increases the risk of breast cancer in women.

-Genetic factors – Inheriting mutations or alterations of certain genes called BRCA-1 and BRCAS-2 increases the risk of developing breast cancer. The ACS estimates that 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases result from inherited mutations of these genes. A woman with these genes has an 80 percent chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the ACS. Women with a family history of breast cancer may be tested for the mutated gene. However, interpretation of the test results and decisions about treatment are complicated. Recent studies have identified other genes and gene mutations that may be associated with breast cancer. Several studies have shown nearly 200 gene mutations that are associated with some breast tumors.

-Previous history of breast cancer or of Benign breast Tumors – This includes being diagnosed with breast cancer as well as non-cancerous tumors. Research has demonstrated the risk of developing breast cancer varies with the actual type of benign breast disease found in a woman.

-Race – Breast cancer is more common in white women than in those of other races, including Hispanic, Asian or black American. Race also affects the survival rate of breast cancer patients. White women with breast cancer have a 90 percent chance of surviving five years. African American women, however, have a 76 percent chance of surviving five years. The difference in survival may be attributed to later stage diagnosis and poorer treatment options. In addition, recent studies have indicated that African American women may be more likely to get a form of breast cancer that is less responsive to treatment.

-Hormone factors – Hormones may increase the risk of breast cancer. Hormonal influences that are believed to raise the risk include:

-Early menstruation – Women who started their period before 12 years of age.
-Late menopause – Women who go through menopause after age 55.
-Pregnancy history – Women who have their first child after the age of 30 or who have had fewer pregnancies or no pregnancies.
-Hormone drugs – The use of oral contraceptives has been linked to a slight increase in breast cancer risk. However, women who have stopped using oral contraceptives for 10 years or more share the same risk as those women who never used them. Hormone replacement Therapy (HRT) that uses a combination of estrogen and progestin may increase a woman’s risk.

-Breast density – Women with less fatty, denser breasts, which are normally older women, have an increased chance of breast cancer.

-Exposure to DES (diethylstilbestrol). A synthetic estrogen widely prescribed from the early 1940s through the early 1970s for pregnant women, DES is believed to slightly increase risk of breast cancer for women. For years, DES was also linked to rare vaginal and cervical cancers in the daughters exposed to the drug during their mothers pregnancies. New research shows that these DES daughters also have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

-Obesity after menopause – In postmenopausal women, estrogen is primarily produced by fat tissue. If a woman is significantly overweight, she has more fat tissue and more estrogen is being produced in their body. In a recent study conducted by the ACS, women who were overweight based on a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25 are 1.3 to 2.1 times more likely to die from breast cancer than women with a normal BMI.

-Radiation to the chest area – For women treated for Hodgkins Lymphoma with radiation to the chest before age 30, the chances of developing breast cancer are higher than the general population.

-Sedentary lifestyle – Women who are physically inactive have a higher rate of breast cancer, possibly due to a sedentary lifestyle.

-Use of Alcohol – Several studies have concluded that the more alcohol consumed by a woman, the higher her risk of breast cancer becomes. Analysis of these studies suggests that the equivalent of two alcoholic drinks per day may increase the risk of breast cancer due to alcohol causing an increase in the body’s hormone levels.

-Smoking – Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing this disease, particularly for those with a family history of breast cancer.-