Breast Cancer
Understanding Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide.
Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast grow uncontrollably.
These cells usually form tumors that are often visible on X-rays or can be felt as breast lump.
A tumor is considered malignant (cancerous) if its cells can grow into surrounding tissue (invade it) or spread (metastasize) to distant parts of the body. Breast cancer occurs almost exclusively in women, but Men can also develop breast cancer.
Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths related to this disease continues to decline, primarily due to earlier detection, new personalized treatment approaches, and a better understanding of the disease.
Where does breast cancer start?
Although many types of breast cancer can cause a lump in the breast, this is not always the case. Many breast cancers are detected through screening mammograms, which can detect cancer at an earlier stage—often before a lump can be felt and before symptoms appear.
There are other symptoms of breast cancer that you should be aware of and report to a healthcare professional.
It is also important to understand that most breast lumps are benign and not cancerous (malignant).
Noncancerous breast tumors is an abnormal growth, but it does not spread beyond the breast and is not life-threatening. However, some benign breast lumps can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Any lump or change in the breast should be examined by a healthcare professional to determine whether it is benign or malignant (cancerous), as well as whether it could affect a woman’s future risk of cancer.
A risk factor is anything that affects your likelihood of developing a disease, such as breast cancer. However, having one or even many risk factors does not mean you will definitely develop the disease.
Certain risk factors for breast cancer are related to personal behaviors, such as diet and exercise.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
1. Drinking alcohol
Drinking alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed.
Compared to women who do not drink alcohol, women who consume one alcoholic drink per day have a very slight increase in risk.
Women who consume two to three servings a day have a risk that is approximately 20% higher than that of women who do not drink alcohol.
Excessive alcohol consumption is also known to increase the risk of other cancers.
2. Overweight or obesity
Being overweight or obese after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer.
Before menopause, your ovaries produce most of your estrogen, while fat tissue produces only a small amount.
After menopause, when the ovaries stop producing estrogen, most of a woman’s estrogen comes from fat tissue. Having more fat tissue after menopause can increase estrogen levels and the risk of breast cancer.
In addition, overweight women tend to have higher blood insulin levels.
Higher insulin levels have been linked to several types of cancer, including breast cancer.
However, the relationship between body weight and breast cancer risk is complex.
For example, the risk appears to increase in women who gain weight as adults, but may not increase in those who have been overweight since childhood. Excess fat around the waist may also have a greater impact on risk than the same amount of fat in the hips and thighs. Researchers suspect that fat cells in different parts of the body have subtle differences that may explain this.
3. Lack of physical activity
A growing body of evidence suggests that regular physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women. The main question is how much activity is needed. Some studies have found that just a few hours of activity per week may be beneficial, although more activity appears to be better.
It is not yet clear exactly how physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer, but it may be related to its effects on body weight, inflammation, hormones, and energy balance
4. Obstetric History
Women who have not had children or who gave birth to their first child after age 30 have a slightly higher overall risk of breast cancer. Having multiple pregnancies and becoming pregnant at a younger age reduces the risk of breast cancer. However, the effect of pregnancy appears to vary depending on the type of breast cancer.
5. Not Breastfeeding
Several studies suggest that breastfeeding may slightly reduce the risk of breast cancer, especially if it lasts for 1½ to 2 years.
One possible explanation for this effect is that breastfeeding reduces the total number of menstrual cycles over the course of a woman’s life, as menstruation begins at a later age or menopause occurs earlier.
6. Contraception
Some methods of birth control use hormones that may increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Oral contraceptives: Most studies have found that women who use oral contraceptives (birth control pills) have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer than women who have never used them. After stopping the pill, the risk appears to return to normal over time. Women who stopped using oral contraceptives more than 10 years ago do not appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Contraceptive injections: Depo-Provera is an injectable form of progesterone administered every three months for birth control. Some studies have found that women currently using injectable birth control appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer, but this increased risk does not appear to persist five years after they stop receiving the injections.
• Contraceptive implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), skin patches, and vaginal rings: This form of contraception also uses hormones that, in theory, could trigger the growth of breast cancer. Some studies have shown a link between the use of hormone-releasing IUDs and the risk of breast cancer, but only a few studies have examined the association between contraceptive implants, patches, and rings and the risk of breast cancer.
When considering hormonal birth control, women should discuss other risk factors for breast cancer with their healthcare provider.
7. Hormone therapy after menopause
Hormone therapy Estrogen, which is often combined with progesterone, has been used for many years to help relieve menopausal symptoms and prevent osteoporosis (bone loss). This therapy is known by several names, such as postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT), hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).
There are two main types of hormone therapy. For women who still have a uterus, doctors generally prescribe estrogen and progesterone, known as combination hormone therapy (HT). Progesterone is necessary because estrogen alone can increase the risk of uterine cancer. In women who have undergone a hysterectomy and no longer have a uterus, estrogen alone can be used. This is known as estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) or estrogen therapy (ET).
Combination hormone therapy (HT):
The use of combined hormone therapy after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer. This therapy may also increase the likelihood of dying from breast cancer. The increased risk can be observed even after just two years of use. The increased risk associated with combined hormone therapy appears to apply only to current users and those who have recently stopped taking it. Women’s risk of breast cancer appears to return to that of the general population within five years after discontinuing therapy.
Estrogen therapy (ET):
The use of estrogen alone after menopause does not appear to significantly increase the risk of breast cancer, if it increases it at all. However, long-term use—more than 15 years—has been found to increase the risk of ovarian and breast cancer in some studies. The decision to use HRT should be made by a woman in consultation with her doctor after weighing the potential risks and benefits, including the severity of menopausal symptoms, as well as other risk factors for heart disease, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. If a woman decides to try HRT for menopausal symptoms, she should generally use the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.
The decision to use hormone therapy should be made by a woman in consultation with her doctor after weighing the potential risks and benefits, including the severity of menopausal symptoms, as well as other risk factors for heart disease, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. If she decides to try hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, it is generally best to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.
8. Age
The risk of breast cancer in women increases with age.
9. Mutations in the breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2)
The normal function of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes is to repair damaged DNA in cells. Therefore, mutations in these genes, which interfere with the ability to repair DNA, can allow cancer to develop. Although the increased risk of breast cancer associated with BRCA mutations cannot be stated with certainty, women with BRCA gene mutations are known to have a higher risk than the 11–12 percent lifetime risk seen in the general female population.
If a girl has a parent with a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, she has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the mutated BRCA gene and a higher risk of developing cancer. In the future, she also has a 50 percent chance of passing it on to her children.
10. Exposure to mutagenic substances in the environment
Most DNA mutations that cause breast cancer are likely due to exposure to various mutagenic substances in the environment, namely high-dose radiation, carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) ingested through food or drink, and cigarette smoke.It is estimated that about 90 percent of all breast cancers result from sporadic mutations in our DNA.
11. Family history of breast cancer without a BRCA gene mutation
If you have a strong family history of breast cancer—such as a diagnosis before age 45 or two or more first-degree relatives with the disease—and your BRCA gene mutation test results are negative, you should still increase your vigilance for early signs of breast cancer.
12. Gender
Breast cancer almost exclusively affects women.
13. Menstrual Cycle
Women who begin menstruating at an early age—before age 12—and who reach menopause after age 50 have an increased risk of breast cancer.
14. History of breast cancer
Women who have had breast cancer in one breast are three to four times more likely to develop cancer in the other breast.
Prevention
Can I reduce my risk of breast cancer?
There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer.
However, there are things you can do that may lower your risk.
Many Risk factors are beyond your control, such as becoming a woman and getting older.
However, Other risk factors can be modified and may reduce the risk.
For women known to be at higher risk for breast cancer, there are additional steps that may reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
1. Be physically active
Many studies show that physical activity Moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, so it’s important to do it regularly.
Exercise most days of the week. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
High-intensity activities are performed at a higher intensity and result in an increased heart rate, sweating, and a faster breathing rate. Activities that improve strength and flexibility, such as weight training, stretching, or yoga, are also beneficial.
2. Limit or avoid alcohol
Alcohol It also increases the risk of breast cancer.
Even low levels of alcohol consumption have been linked to an increased risk of various cancers.
If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Limit your consumption to no more than one drink per day if you choose to drink.
3. Breast Examination
Ask your doctor about breast cancer screening. Discuss when you should start having examinations and screening tests, such as clinical breast exams and mammograms.
4. Select healthy eating habits
Women who follow a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil and a mix of nuts may have a lower risk of breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet focuses primarily on plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. People who follow this diet choose healthy fats, such as olive oil, over butter, and fish over red meat.
5. Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding may play a role in preventing breast cancer. The longer a woman breastfeeds, the greater the protective effect.
6. Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy
Combined hormone therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer. Discuss the benefits and risks of hormone therapy with your doctor. To reduce the risk of breast cancer, use the lowest possible dose of hormone therapy for the shortest possible time.
7. Medications to reduce the risk of breast cancer
Prescription medications can be used to help reduce the risk of breast cancer in certain women who are at higher risk.
Drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene block the action of estrogen in breast tissue.
7. Preventive surgery
Women at very high risk for breast cancer may choose to have their healthy breast surgically removed (prophylactic mastectomy). They may also choose to have their healthy ovaries removed (prophylactic oophorectomy) to reduce their risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Is there a link between diet or vitamins and the risk of breast cancer?
The possible link between diet and breast cancer risk is not yet clear, but it continues to be studied. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products has been associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in some studies. However, it is not yet clear whether vegetables, fruits, or specific foods can reduce the risk. Most studies have also found no significant effect of reduced fat intake on breast cancer risk.
This does not mean that a healthy diet is not beneficial. A diet low in fat, processed meats, and red meat, and high in fruits and vegetables clearly has other health benefits, including a reduced risk of several other cancers.
To date, no studies have shown that taking vitamins or other supplements reduces the risk of breast cancer or other cancers.
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:
7. Difficulty remembering or understanding.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can also affect your ability to think, remember, and learn. Difficulty remembering or understanding concepts is more common in people with high blood pressure.
01
A lump or thickening in the breast that feels different from the surrounding tissue
02
Changes in the size, shape, or appearance of the breasts
03
Changes in the skin of the breast, such as dimpling; a burning sensation
04
Nipples that have recently been pulled inward; Numbness
05
Peeling, flaking, crusting, or flaking of the skin in the pigmented area around the nipple (areola) or on the breast
06
Redness or dimpling of the breast skin, resembling an orange peel
Causes
Doctors know that breast cancer occurs when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally.
Researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer. However, it is not yet clear why some people without risk factors develop breast cancer, while others with risk factors never do.
Breast cancer is likely caused by a complex interaction between your genetic makeup and your environment.
Diagnosis
Tests and procedures for diagnosing breast cancer include:
01
Breast exam.
The doctor will examine both breasts and the lymph nodes in the armpits, and feel for lumps or other abnormalities.
02
Mammography
A mammogram is an X-ray examination of the breast and is commonly used for breast cancer screening. If an abnormality is found on a screening mammogram, a doctor may recommend a diagnostic mammogram for further evaluation.
03
Breast ultrasound
An ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of structures inside the body. This test can determine whether a new lump in the breast is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst.
04
Collection of breast tissue samples for examination (biopsy).
A biopsy is the only definitive way to diagnose breast cancer. During a biopsy, the doctor uses a special needle guided by X-rays or other imaging tests to remove a tissue sample from the suspicious area. Often, a small metal marker is left at the site so that the area can be easily identified during subsequent imaging tests.
05
The biopsy sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis, where experts determine whether the cells are cancerous. The sample is also analyzed to determine the type of cells involved, the aggressiveness (grade) of the cancer, and whether the cancer cells have hormone receptors or other receptors that may influence treatment options.
06
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast.
An MRI machine uses magnets and radio waves to produce images of the inside of the breast. Before a breast MRI, you will receive an injection of a contrast dye. Unlike some other types of imaging, an MRI does not use radiation to produce images.
Treatment
Breast cancer treatment is an invasive procedure, which means it has the potential to cause adverse effects due to side effects. However, treatment is performed to prevent the cancer from spreading and to prolong survival. According to the source page, since these procedures are unavoidable after a diagnosis of breast cancer, prevention is considered better than treatment.
Breast cancer treatment:
• Breast cancer surgery ↗
• Chemotherapy for breast cancer ↗
• Radiation therapy for breast cancer ↗