Which of the following is a risk factor for breast cancer?

• A. Regular physical activity
• B. Advanced age
• C. Late menopause
• D. High-fiber diet

Answer: (C)

Longer exposure to estrogen increases the chance that breast cells undergo proliferative changes that can lead to cancer. Estrogen stimulates breast tissue, so the more years a woman has active estrogen exposure, the higher the risk of accumulating DNA changes that pave the way for cancer development.

Late menopause extends the period during which estrogen is produced by the ovaries, increasing cumulative estrogen exposure. This makes it a clear risk factor for breast cancer.

Regular physical activity tends to lower risk, partly by reducing adiposity and estrogen levels; a high-fiber diet doesn’t have a strong, well-established link to breast cancer risk; while advanced age is a general risk factor for many cancers, the specific factor emphasized here is the longer duration of estrogen exposure provided by late menopause.