SUMVIRBLOG HEALTH ADVICE FOR EVERYONE: BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS THAT YOU MUST KNOW

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Breast cancer is one of the main diseases that causes women death on global level. It is very common between 35 and 54 years old women. More than 1 million women over the world are diagnosed annually. An early diagnosis, with mammography or breast self-exams, is the best way to decrease the breast cancer mortality.

HOW BREAST CANCER SPREAD

In breast cancer, breast cells growth without control and disseminate lymphatically being able to cause metastases in bones, lungs and liver.

Risks factors

Gender:

Being a woman is the mainly risk factor but men can have this disease too, with less frequency obviously. Because female hormones (estrogen) can cause the abnormal cell growth and men have less estrogen and progesterone than women, but, anyway, they have it.

Age:

The risk for breast cancer increases with age. Most of women are diagnosed at age 45 and above. The risk starts to increase after 30 years old.

Genetic

factors: It is one of the most relevant factors. The genetic alterations, which increase the risk of have breast cancer, are heritable, the main mutated genes are BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women with mutations in these genes can develop breast cancer with a probability of 60-70 %.

Early menstruation late menopause:

Starting menstruation before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55. This is because there is more chance to have strong estrogen effects.

Not having children:

Nulliparity (do not have babies) is a factor which increase the risk, related with some scientific studies. Researchers think that is because the level of carcinogenic estrogens decreases. On the other hand, having babies before age 30 could be a way to decrease this risk factor. Also, lactation is a protective factor.

Lifestyle (Weight, Alcohol, Tobacco):

It is well known that a wrong lifestyle affect directly the health. A good alimentation with more fruits and vegetables than sugars, carbohydrates and calories is indispensable, as way to prevent cancer risk and keep in good health. Alimentation plus exercises also help to have a healthy weight and a good mental health which decreases stress levels and help to maintain a strong immunologic system. Alcohol and tobacco affect directly this point, and tend to weaken the immunologic system.

Family history of breast cancer:

If any women in the family had breast cancer the possibility to get this disease is very high. It is recommended, if the patient has a family history of breast cancer must stay in a constant observation of a registered physician because is likely that a hereditary breast cancer develops.

Drugs as diethylstilbestrol (DES) or oral contraceptives:

Exogenous hormones as oral contraceptives or hormonal substitution therapies lead to a higher risk to developing breast cancer; on the other hand lactation has a protector effect. DES was a drug to prevent miscarriage, given to some pregnant women between 1940-1970. Eventually, however was discovered that this drug causes some cell alterations and could cause breast cancer or daughters whom mothers had taken it during pregnancy.

Previous treatment using radiation therapy: A previous radiotherapy always is a risk factor for developing any cancer. Remind that radiation modifies cell structure and it is not enough aimed for attack cancerous cells only, so the healthy tissue and cells tend to suffer damage.

Although breast cancer risk factors are categorized, in most of the cases it is very difficult to understand why some women have this disease or which were them personal risk factors. The best way to prevent it is try to modify all the modifiable factors as lifestyle, which is one of the most important factors and always have a medical control (annual, at least) and perform a breast self-exam.