Breast Cancer - Inflammatory: Risk Factors

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 06/2022

ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about the factors that increase the chance of developing inflammatory breast cancer. Use the menu to see other pages.

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Although risk factors often influence the risk of developing cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do. Knowing your risk factors and talking about them with your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health care choices.

The risk factors for inflammatory breast cancer are the same as those for other forms of breast cancer. It is not known what specific factors can raise a person’s risk of inflammatory breast cancer. A family history of breast cancer in general may increase the risk of developing inflammatory breast cancer, but no specific genetic mutations or changes have been found for this type of breast cancer.

Prevention

Different factors cause different types of cancer. Researchers continue to look into what factors cause inflammatory breast cancer, including ways to prevent it. Although there is no proven way to completely prevent inflammatory breast cancer, you may be able to lower your risk. Talk with your health care team for more information about your personal risk of cancer. The methods used for preventing inflammatory breast cancer are similar to those used for other types of breast cancer. Learn more about breast cancer prevention.

The next section in this guide is Screening. It explains how tests may find cancer before signs or symptoms appear. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.