about us video series our stars funding resources news order         faq's how did i get breast cancer?   FAQ's   Am I going to survive this illness? Is breast cancer an automatic death sentence?   How did I get breast cancer?   What can I do to prevent recurrence of breast cancer?   Will I lose my hair from whatever treatment my doctors recommend?   Will people treat me differently because I have breast cancer?   What is a second opinion and should I get one?   Does a lumpectomy cure breast cancer as effectively as a mastectomy?   How quickly must I make decisions regarding treatment?   How can I tell if a lump in my breast is cancer or not?   Can I become pregnant if I have had breast cancer?   What is a clinical trial?   Should I participate in a clinical trial? How did I get breast cancer? There are no clear "reasons" for developing breast cancer. A family history, environmental factors, and poor health habits such as smoking, all contribute to breast cancer. None of these reasons is solely responsible for breast cancer. However, if you have a first-degree relative, a mother or a sister, who had breast cancer, you are at higher risk. You did nothing to cause your breast cancer.