What are the major causes of breast cancer?
Breast cancer has been a major epidemic among citizens all over the world. This cancer type ranks second as killer from lung cancer. An estimation of approximately of one-third of breast cancers are attributed to have a link to artificial factors. They include lack of proper exercise, alcoholism, obesity, intake of progestin menopausal hormones combined with estrogen and finally the failure to breast feed. Factors entailing hormones for example delayed menopause, hormones use and menarche accelerates the disease by exposure of the hormones to breast cell. Biologically the functionality of hormones increases cell multiplication. Continuous cell division leads to the damage of the DNA cells resulting to cancer.
Inherited pathogenic accounts of approximately 15-20 % of the known cancer cases. Although the figures might be a bit different in members of certain ethnic groups. Genetic dispersion in BRCA1 and BRCA2, are the most causative genes. They account for 5-10 % of the total cancer cases in the world. Women at age 80 years may be in a risk of 10% contracting the disease. For those with a variation in BRCA1 and BRCA2 their risk is quit high at 70 %. At age 70 % women with a variation in BRCA2 and PALB2, have a risk of 35 %. There is also an increased risk with other genes mutating. Some of this genes include TP53 linked to Li-Fraumeni syndrome, STK11 associated to Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, PTEN linked to Cowden syndrome and finally the CDH1 associated with lobular breast cancer syndrome.
Height have also been linked to increased breast cancer. Research have found out taller women are at a higher risk of contracting cancer compared to shorter women. A study conducted on a population of 5 million women indicated that an increase in height by 4 inches pushes the risk of the diseases by 17 %. The reasons for this discovery are unclear and might be associated to hormonal variations causing high heights. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The appearance and end of menstrual cycles cause an increases and decrease in the disease. For females who start receiving their flows below age 11 might have an increased risk of contacting the diseases by 20% compared to those who start at age 14 and above. On the contrary women who stop experiencing their flows at age 55 and above may have an increased risk of 55% compared to those whi stop by age 50. The risk is attributed to a long exposure to reproductive hormones.
Bone mineral density variance poses risk in suffering from breast cancer. In postmenopausal women, high variation in the factor results to 60-80 % risk this is in association to women with low bone mineral density. This factor is a dependent factor and cannot cause cancer on its own. Bone mineral variation is connected to work with HR+ disease. Its mainly used identifying women who might be in a risk of suffering from the cancer.
The variation in Endogenous hormones level contribute breast cancer development. Women who have stopped experiencing their flows and have a high level of Endogenous hormones are in a risk of experiencing the diseases twice compared to those with a lower level. This risk is also associated to HR+ tumors.
Psychical inactivity among women contribute to increased breast cancer case. Women who fail to undergo physical exercises experience a 10-20% increased risk. Exercises are associated to control of systematic inflammation, energy control and hormone control.
Diet contribute to breast cancer increment or reduction. Consumption of fiber, excessive fats, soy, meat, dairy, fruits and vegetable contribute to the increment and reduction of breast cancer. A research concluded that high consumption of soy reduces the risk of contracting breast cancer. A survey on Asian women indicated less cases in breast cancer. This was because of high soy in their main diet. Consumption of fruits and vegetables might contribute to reduced cases of HR- cancer. The breast cancer type is caused by lack of carotenoids. This micronutrients are high in vegetables and fruits. High calcium consumption lead to reduced effects in causing the disease. The type of diet consumption remain a subject of research for scientist.
Alcohol consumption account for 7-10 % for each bottle of drink consumed by women. Those who take 2-3 drinks a day may have an increased risk of 20 % of contracting cancer compared to non –drinkers. Alcohol before first birth increase the risk further. Alcohol increases risk indirectly by pushing the level of estrogen high. Alcohol consumption is linked to HR+ breast cancer.
Myths on the causes of cancer.
Abortion have been linked to breast cancer. The misconception was based on previous early studies. The study was cause was ruled out by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology due to lack of solid evidence. Later on a panel of scientist in 2003 confirmed the inexistence of such a connection.
The internet and other sources relates breast cancer and bras. This is due to blockage of lymph flow. Scientist have not yet found a scientific connection between the two. A recent survey on 1500 women confirmed no connection between the two.
Breast cancer screening.
There is a high recommendation to screen breast cancer. This was from American Cancer Society. Screening gives a patient the risk of early treatment reducing more complicated methods used in treatment or even deaths. Some of the screening methods include mammography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Mammography is an X-ray conducted on the breast tissues. Early mammography was based on only X-ray films. Advancement in technology have brought about 2-D images on breast cells. The images are captured through electronic means and displayed in monitors. This improvement in technology contribute to sensitivity for women with high breast tissues and below age 50. Increased screening of women through this method brought around a 40 % reduction in Canada due early treatment. Mammography have its own limitations where it’s may fail to detect all cancer cells in a patient. In some cases the method might lead to false information resulting to early treatment which might pose challenges on the victim.
The Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an improved form of the 2D mammography which takes multiple images. It later constructs a 3 d image of the breast which can later examined. This method increases the sensitivity of detecting cancerous cell in the breast.
The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a screening method that uses high powered magnet together with radio waves to come up with an image of breast tissues. The method is used for women with a high risk of cancer attacks. The risk are among the discussed factors above. The method should not be used for women with less dense tissues and with a minimum risk 15% in cancer attacks.
Breast ultrasound is used to evaluate abnormal results from mammography. The screening method makes use of sound waves in capturing an image. For women with high dense tissue when used collectively with mammography it delivers quite accurate results.
Breast cancer treatment.
The primary aim for surgery is removing cancer cells from the breast and preventing it spreading to other parts of the body. Removed cancer cells can also be used to determine the stage of the cancer. Surgery entails removing the whole breast that is affected (mastectomy) or partially removing the affected cell known a partial mastectomy. Surgery treatment is for those with high cancer cells compared to the normal tissue. After conducting mastectomy the process is later followed by radiation.
Radiation therapy is mainly employed to make sure that all cancer cells are removed in the body. It’s done on the chest walls, under arm and remaining breast tissue. The method is mainly aimed at reducing the event of occurrence of the cancer. It reduces occurrence by 50% in a period of ten years. Radiation does not improve survival chances for those with 70 years a above.
Immunotherapy is a recent invention in the field of treating cancer. It comprises taking of drugs that stimulate the immune system to detect cancer cells. After detection the body starts responding by destroying the cells. An example are the Checkpoint inhibitors which treat the negative subtype of cancer.
In conclusion, early detection of cancer causing agents in the body can contribute to women undergoing regular checkups. Where breast cancer tissue are identified the necessary treatment action can be taken. The earlier the diseases treatment process starts the lower the risk of occurrence of cancer deaths.