Find out what the risk factors for breast cancer are, and what you can do to help lower your risk in this article.

Q: Am I at risk for breast cancer?

It is impossible to predict with accuracy who will get breast cancer, and who will not, since the exact causes of this disease are still being researched. But we do know some of the risk factors for breast cancer. Being aware of these risk factors can help a woman make the decision to have regular screening for breast cancer, and to take preventive measures.

Age and estrogen exposure:

Breast cancer appears to be a disease that affects primarily post-menopausal women, with most cases occurring in women over the age of 50. Caucasian women are at higher risk than those from minority groups. Apparently the cells that cause breast cancer have their growth stimulated by exposure to estrogen over a long period of time. Increasing the lifetime exposure to estrogen, whether from an early onset of menstrual periods, a late onset of menopause, delaying childbirth until after age 30, never having children, or hormone replacement therapy are risk factors in whether cancer cells are stimulated to grow in the breast tissue.

Genetic influence

A positive family history of breast cancer (a mother, sister, or daughter who have this disease) is considered a risk factor for this disease. The younger the age of the family member affected, the greater the risk. Certain genes such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 have also been identified as creating an increased possibility of breast cancer. If a woman is considered high risk, she should be tested for these genes, and she may be eligible for preventive treatment/screening.

Changes in breast tissue

Certain changes in the breast tissue can create an increased risk of cancer, such as atypical hyperplasia (an increased growth of tissue). Breasts that appear denser on mammograms because of increased amounts of lobular and ductal tissue (versus fatty tissue, which is less dense) apparently have an increased risk as well

Exposure to toxins

Some studies appear to show that women who drink alcohol are at increased risk. Exposure to radiation therapy of the breasts at a young age has also been implicated.

Weight gain

According to a Harvard medical study, 16 % of postmenopausal breast cancer was linked to weight gain, with the highest risk for women who put on 44 to 55 pounds after adolescence. The lowest risk was for women whose weight remained stable and did not flunctuate more than 4 to 5 pounds during adulthood.

One problem with identifying risk factors for breast cancer is that MOST women who develop it do not have any risk factors, other than increasing age.

Q: Is there a way to reduce my risk of breast cancer?

As noted above, for many women, there are NO identified risk factors. But there are things a woman can do to ensure either the prevention or early detection of breast cancer (when it is most treatable). Basically, the following tips are part of a healthier lifestyle.

Regular checkups:

These include checking at home by doing a monthly breast exam (the week after your period is the best time, when the breast is not tender). It is especially important to check under the nipple, the upper outer breast quadrant, and towards the armpit since these are areas where most breast cancers occur. Learning what your breasts normally are like will help you with identifying if any changes occur. If they do, notify your health care provider immediately for follow-up.

A yearly professional breast exam in addition to the home exams is important as well. These regular breast checks can find lumps that are smaller and have a better treatment prognosis.

A yearly mammogram, especially after age 40, when the risk of breast cancer goes up, is also an important preventive measure.

Decrease toxins:

Smoking has been identified as a possible risk factor for breast cancer, and quitting can help decrease the risk. Alcohol intake is another identified risk, and cutting down to 2 drinks or less a day has been associated with improved outcomes.

Healthy diet:

A diet that contains less fat (less than 20% of the daily intake) and includes more vegetables and fresh fruits has been recommended in helping to prevent cancer, since they contain antioxidants which fight against free radicals (toxic byproducts of metabolism that can damage cells and lead to cancer) in the blood stream. Soy products are also linked with a decreased risk of breast cancer, since they contain genistein, a phytoestrogen).

Natural Progesterone

Estrogen dominance has been linked with an increased incidence of fibrotic breast tissues, cysts, and an increased risk of breast cancer. This is because estrogen tends to increase cell longetivity, and it is these “old cells” that have been implicated in causing breast cancer. Progesterone, on the other hand, encourages breast cells to “die out” when their time is completed, and reduces the risk that breast cancer will develop.

Exercise and weight loss

Exercise is believed to decreases the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women. 1/2 hour a day minimum is recommended. Studies have shown that women who gain weight in adulthood are at an increased risk for breast cancer, and exercise is one way of creating and maintaining weight loss. The ideal is to keep a steady weight, without flunctuations up and down.

Tags: breast cancer, diet, identify, progesterone, weight loss

This entry was posted on Friday, March 19th, 2010 at 10:42 am and is filed under General Health, Prescription Drugs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.