BREASAT CANCER
Disorder
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is
cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts.
After skin cancer,
breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States.
Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in
women.
Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths associated with this disease is steadily declining, largely due to factors such as earlier detection, a new personalized approach to treatment and a better understanding of the diseases.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of
breast cancer may include:
·
A breast lump or thickening that feels
different from the surrounding tissue
·
Change in the size, shape or appearance of a
breast
·
Changes to the skin over the breast, such as
dimpling
·
A newly inverted nipple
Causes
Doctors know that
breast cancer occurs when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells
divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate, forming a
lump or mass. Cells may spread (metastasize) through your breast to your lymph
nodes or to other parts of your body.
Breast cancer most
often begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal
carcinoma). Breast cancer may also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules
(invasive lobular carcinoma) 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.
Inherited breast
cancer
Doctors estimate that about 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are linked to gene mutations passed through generations of a family. A number of inherited mutated genes that can increase the likelihood of breast cancer have been identified. The most well-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.
Risk factors
A breast cancer risk factor is anything that
makes it more likely you'll get breast cancer. But having one or even several
breast cancer risk factors doesn't necessarily mean you'll develop breast
cancer. Many women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors other
than simply being women.
Factors that are associated with an increased
risk of breast cancer include:
·
Being
female. Women are much more likely than men are
to develop 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.
·
Drinking
alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of
breast cancer.
Prevention
·
Ask your doctor about breast cancer screening. Discuss with your doctor when to begin breast cancer
screening exams and tests, such as clinical breast exams and mammograms.
Talk to your doctor
about the benefits and risks of screening. Together, you can decide what breast
cancer screening strategies are right for you.
·
Become familiar with your breasts through breast self-exam 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
can't prevent breast cancer, but it may help you to better understand the
normal changes that your breasts undergo and identify any unusual signs and
symptoms.
·
Drink alcohol 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 most days of the week. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of
the week. If you haven't been active lately, ask your doctor whether it's OK
and start slowly.
·
Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy. Combination hormone therapy may increase the risk of
breast cancer. 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. If
your weight is healthy, work to maintain that weight. If you need to lose
weight, ask your doctor about healthy strategies to accomplish this. Reduce the
number of calories you eat each day and slowly increase the amount of exercise.
·
Choose a healthy diet. Women
who eat a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil and mixed
nuts may have a reduced risk of breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet focuses
mostly on plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains,
legumes, and nuts. People who follow the Mediterranean diet choose healthy
fats, such as olive oil, over butter and fish instead of red meat.
Breast cancer risk
reduction for women with a high risk
·
Preventive medications (chemoprevention). Estrogen-blocking medications, such as selective estrogen
receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors, reduce the risk of breast cancer
in women with a high risk of the disease.
These medications carry
a risk of side effects, so doctors reserve these medications for women who have
a very high risk of breast cancer. Discuss the benefits and risks with your
doctor.
·
Preventive surgery. Women
with a very high risk of breast cancer may choose to have their healthy breasts
surgically removed (prophylactic mastectomy). They may also choose to have
their healthy ovaries removed (prophylactic oophorectomy) to reduce the risk of
both breast cancer and ovarian cancer
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