Blog

This is cancer that affects the cells of the breast by causing some breast cells to grow rapidly beyond a normal healthy breast.

Breast cancer is labelled the most common cancer diagnosed in women after Skin cancer in the US and beyond. Both men and women can be a victim of breast cancer, but it is mostly common in women.

The rates of survival for breast cancer has increased in recent years due to the fact that Substantial support for breast cancer awareness and research funding has helped created advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. To this effect the rate of deaths associated with breast cancer is steadily reducing. The reduction of these dangers is argely influenced by the following factors; earlier detection, a new approach to the better understanding of the desease

Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

• Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast
• Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
• A newly inverted nipple
• Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin
• Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
• A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissues

Causes

According to medicals breast cancer occurs when breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate, forming a mass of the cells which appear in lumps. Cells may spread via your breast to your lymph nodes or to other body parts.

Breast cancer most often starts with cells in the milk-producing ducts . Breast cancer may sometimes start in the glandular tissue called lobules or in other cells or tissue within the breast.

Researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer. But it’s not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer, yet other people with risk factors never do. It’s likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.

Breast cancer due to inheritance

Medical professionals estimate that about 4 to 9 percent of breast cancers are gene related (gene mutation) which could be passed on to generations upon generations.

Some inherited mutated genes that can increase the likelihood of breast cancer have been identified. The most known are breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), both of which significantly increase the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.

If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or other cancers, your doctor may recommend a blood test to help identify specific mutations in BRCA or other genes that are being passed through your family.

Consider asking your doctor for a referral to a genetic counselor, who can review your family health history. A genetic counselor can also discuss the benefits, risks and limitations of genetic testing to assist you with shared decision-making.

Risk factors

A breast cancer risk factor is anything that makes it more likely for you to suffer from breast cancer.

Factors that are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer include:

• Being female. Women are much more likely than men in developing breast cancer.
• Increasing age. Your risk of breast cancer increases as you age.
• A personal history of breast conditions. If you’ve had a breast biopsy that found lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical hyperplasia of the breast, you have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• A personal history of breast cancer. If you’ve had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast.
• A family history of breast cancer. If your mother, sister or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly at a young age, your risk of breast cancer is increased. Still, the majority of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.
• Inherited genes that increase cancer risk. Certain gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer can be passed from parents to children. The most well-known gene mutations are referred to as BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes can greatly increase your risk of breast cancer and other cancers, but they don’t make cancer inevitable.
• Radiation exposure. If you received radiation treatments to your chest as a child or young adult, your risk of breast cancer is increased.
• Obesity. Being obese increases your risk of breast cancer.
• Beginning your period at a younger age. Beginning your period before age 12 increases your risk of breast cancer.
• Beginning menopause at an older age. If you began menopause at an older age, you’re more likely to develop breast cancer.
• Having your first child at an older age. Women who give birth to their first child after age 30 may have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Having never been pregnant. Women who have never been pregnant have a greater risk of breast cancer than do women who have had one or more pregnancies.
• Postmenopausal hormone therapy. Women who take hormone therapy medications that combine estrogen and progesterone to treat the signs and symptoms of menopause have an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer decreases when women stop taking these medications.
• Drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer.

Prevention

Your exposure to the risk of breast cancer is mostly dependent on your daily life .trying to make some changes in your daily life will account in reducing the risk of Breast Cancer

• Ask your medical personel about breast cancer screening. Discuss with your doctor when to begin breast cancer screening exams and tests, such as clinical mammograms.

Discourse with you doctor about the benefits and risks of screening. Together, you can decide what breast cancer screening strategies are suitable for you.

• Become familiar with your breasts through frequent breast examination for breast awareness. Women may choose to become familiar with their breasts by occasionally inspecting their breasts during a breast self-exam for breast awareness. If there is a new change, lumps or other unusual signs in your breasts, talk to your doctor promptly.

Breast awareness may not necessarily prevent breast cancer, but it helps you to better understand the normal changes that your breasts undergo and identify any unusual signs and symptoms.

• alcohol intake in moderation, if at all. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day, if you choose to drink.
• Exercise frequently in a week . Engaging into much exercise will do a lot good to sustain
• Limit hormone therapy.  Hormone therapy mat increase the risk of breast cancer. to this effects, its advised to limit the intake of paustino. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of hormone therapy.

Some women experience bothersome signs and symptoms during menopause and, for these women, the increased risk of breast cancer may be acceptable in order to relieve menopause signs and symptoms.

To reduce the risk of breast cancer, use the lowest dose of hormone therapy possible for the shortest amount of time.

• Maintain a healthy weight. . Reduce the number of body calories intake each day and slowly increase the amount of exercise you make each day.
• Maintaining a healthy diet. People who eat on vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fruits with olive oil and mixed nuts may have a limited risk of breast cancer.

Risk reduction of Breast cancer for women with a high risk

If your doctor has examined you properly and is likely to conclude that your case is a genetic case, then the following measures are for you :

• Preventive surgery. Women with a very high risk of breast cancer may choose to undergo prophylactic mastectomy, a situation where your breast is surgically removed. sometimes , they may also choose to undergo prophylactic oophorectomy which involves them getting their ovaries surgically removed as well.

Note:

Its important to be aware that breast cancer is not contagious.