Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, with a significant impact on global health. Early diagnosis and prevention are crucial for improving survival rates. This review summarizes key studies on the pathogenesis, related genes, risk factors, and prevention methods of breast cancer. The development of breast cancer involves multiple steps and cell types, and its prevention remains challenging. Early diagnosis through mammography and MRI screening significantly improves survival rates, with a 5-year relative survival rate above 80% in some developed countries. Recent advancements in understanding the disease have led to the discovery of breast cancer stem cells (bCSCs) and the identification of numerous genes associated with breast cancer, such as BRCA1/2, HER2, EGFR, c-Myc, and Ras. Risk factors include aging, family history, reproductive factors, estrogen exposure, and lifestyle choices like alcohol consumption and dietary habits. Prevention strategies include screening, chemoprevention, and biological prevention. Chemoprevention methods, such as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and aromatase inhibitors (AIs), have shown efficacy in reducing the risk of breast cancer. Biological prevention, including monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab and pertuzumab, and immunotherapy agents like PD1/PDL1 inhibitors, have also shown promise. Despite these advancements, there is still a need for better public awareness and education about breast cancer prevention, especially in developing countries. Individual genome sequencing may become a powerful tool for risk evaluation and personalized prevention strategies.Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, with a significant impact on global health. Early diagnosis and prevention are crucial for improving survival rates. This review summarizes key studies on the pathogenesis, related genes, risk factors, and prevention methods of breast cancer. The development of breast cancer involves multiple steps and cell types, and its prevention remains challenging. Early diagnosis through mammography and MRI screening significantly improves survival rates, with a 5-year relative survival rate above 80% in some developed countries. Recent advancements in understanding the disease have led to the discovery of breast cancer stem cells (bCSCs) and the identification of numerous genes associated with breast cancer, such as BRCA1/2, HER2, EGFR, c-Myc, and Ras. Risk factors include aging, family history, reproductive factors, estrogen exposure, and lifestyle choices like alcohol consumption and dietary habits. Prevention strategies include screening, chemoprevention, and biological prevention. Chemoprevention methods, such as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and aromatase inhibitors (AIs), have shown efficacy in reducing the risk of breast cancer. Biological prevention, including monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab and pertuzumab, and immunotherapy agents like PD1/PDL1 inhibitors, have also shown promise. Despite these advancements, there is still a need for better public awareness and education about breast cancer prevention, especially in developing countries. Individual genome sequencing may become a powerful tool for risk evaluation and personalized prevention strategies.