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Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today. This section discusses the main types of breast cancer, identifies the risk factors, dispels breast cancer myths, and provides the most recent statistics on breast cancer.
Who is at risk for breast cancer?
All women are at risk for breast cancer. Risk factor that may increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer include: age, family history, genetics, previous breast biopsy showing benign (non-cancerous) conditions, menstruation beginning at an early age, menstruation continuing past age 50, not having children, having a first child after age 30, and high fat diets. However, 80% of women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors.
Is breast cancer a genetic disease?
Family history and genetics are only two of the risk factors associated with breast cancer. Women who carry mutations of certain genes (such as BRCA1, BRCA2 or p53) are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women with no known risk factors. As stated earlier, 80% of women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors.
What are the warning signs of breast cancer?
Any change in the normal appearance or texture of a woman’s breast may be an indication of breast cancer and should be examined by a physician. Common warning signs of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, an abnormal thickening of the breast tissue, or a change in density of the breast. Occasionally, breast cancer may be indicated by a lump under the arm, a redness of the skin over the breast, a change of the nipple (such as discharge or inversion), or a dimpling of the breast skin. Note: breast cancer is not always noticeable by appearance or touch. Women over 40 years of age should have annual mammograms to help detect breast cancer at an early stage. Women who are at high risk of breast cancer (such as those who have tested positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes) or those who have a first-degree (mother or sister) who have/had breast cancer should ask their physicians about beginning annual mammograms 10 years prior to the age of diagnosis of the relative as early as age 25.
Does nipple discharge indicate breast cancer?
Most nipple discharges do not indicate a cancerous condition. Up to 20% of women may experience spontaneous milky, opalescent, or clear fluid nipple discharge and up to 60% of women experience nipple discharge during breast self examination. Usually, if the discharge is milky, yellow, or green, it does not indicate cancer. Spontaneous bloody or watery unilateral discharges are considered abnormal and should be evaluated by a physician (although only 10% of these abnormalities are usually cancerous).
Does nutrition and diet affect breast cancer risk?
Nutrition and diet may play a role in breast cancer risk. Studies show that there is a much higher incidence of breast cancer in areas with high fat diets (such as the United States) than areas with low-fat diets (such as Japan). In general, women should maintain a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in polyunsaturated fats (such as corn oils, tub margarine) and saturated fats in meats to reduce their risk of breast cancer. However, since several other factors such as genetics, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors are often related to diet, it may be difficult to determine the relative contributions of each factor to overall risk.
Does breast feeding increase the risk of breast cancer?
There has been no evidence that breast-feeding causes breast cancer. In fact, some preliminary studies reveal that breast-feeding may decrease a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, though this data has not yet been confirmed. Women who breast-feed can still get breast cancer, but they are not at any increased risk compared to women who do not breast-feed.
Does breast size affect breast cancer risk?
There has been no conclusive evidence that breast size is related to breast cancer risk. However, radiologists may have a more difficult time reading the mammogram of a woman with dense breast tissue.
How can women reduce their risk of breast cancer?
There are many breast cancer risk factors that cannot be controlled such as genetics, early menstruation and family history. Other aspects such diet, early child-bearing, and weight can be controlled to help reduce the risk of breast cancer. Women who maintain a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in polyunsaturated fats (such as corn oils, tub margarine) and saturated fats (such as those found in meats) may help lower their risk of the disease. Smoking and alcohol consumption have also been linked to higher incidences of breast cancer.
Should women performed breast self-exams?
Women may perform breast self exams to help detect changes in their breasts to call to their physicians’ attention. Performing regular breast self exams can help women become familiar with the individual characteristics of their breasts and notice any changes.
It is important to remember that mammography is still the gold standard for early detection of breast cancer. Many cancer organizations, recommend that every woman 40 or older should have a mammogram every year.
Do young women get breast cancer?
Though risk increases with age, young women may also get breast cancer.
- By age 25, 1 in 19,608 women have breast cancer
- By age 30, 1 in 2,525 women have breast cancer
- By age 35, 1 in 622 women have breast cancer
Regardless of age, women should promptly report any breast abnormalities to their physician.
Can men get breast cancer?
Men count for approximately 1,300 cases of breast cancer each year. It is estimated that 400 men die from the disease each year.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Often, breast cancer is first detected by mammogram. If the radiologist notices a suspicious area on the mammogram, he or she may refer the patient for additional testing such as diagnostic mammography, special mammography views, breast ultrasound, MR scan, T scan or sestamibi. After further breast imaging, patients with suspicious lesions may be referred for a breast biopsy to determine whether breast cancer is present.
How common are breast lumps?
Many women develop breast lumps. In general, 80% of lumps are caused by benign (non-cancerous) changes in the breast. This percentage tends to fluctuate with age. For young women, more than 80% of breast lumps are benign. With age, the risk for breast cancer increases. The percentage of benign breast lumps in older women may be much lower than in younger women.
Who should get a mammogram?
All women over 40 years of age should have a mammogram each year. Woman at a very high risk of breast cancer (such as those have tested positive for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes).
What is the difference between a benign breast condition and breast cancer?
A benign breast condition is any non-cancerous breast abnormality. The most common benign breast conditions include fibrocystic changes, benign breast tumors and breast inflammation. Most benign breast conditions such as fibrocystic change or fibro adenomas (small tumors) do not increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer later in life.
Does taking hormone replacement therapy after menopause increase the risk of breast cancer?
The link between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and breast cancer is controversial. While HRT is highly effective at relieving menopausal symptoms and may provide protection against conditions such as osteoporosis, there is some evidence that supports a link between HRT and an increased risk for breast cancer.
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