The full BBC story says that no one knows why a woman develops breast cancer.

Any one woman who develops this disease is thought to have it due to several contributing causes—genetic, environmental and lifestyle.

The story also says:

“There isn’t anything we can do about the genes we inherit, we do know that you can reduce your risk of breast cancer by maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption and exercising regularly.”

—Dr. Caroline Hacker, Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Patients should not blame themselves should they receive  this diagnosis. Neither should others.

BBC

“Five genetic clues to why some women have a family history of breast cancer have been identified by UK researchers.

“It brings to 18 the number of common genetic variations linked to a small increased risk of breast cancer.

“The Cambridge University-led research, published in Nature Genetics, could see targeted screening and treatment of women more likely to get breast cancer.

“It is thought about one in 20 of all breast cancers are down to inherited faults in known genes.”

Source: BBC, May 9, 2010

Citation: Nature Genetics, 2010, Published online May 9, 2010