Breast cancer: what you need to know

While lung cancer is still the first most likely form of cancer to claim the life of a woman, breast cancer is now a close second. Thankfully, advancements in technology have made early detection possible, while advancements in treatment have helped to brighten the statistical picture.

Even with these advancements against cancer, the randomness of its choice of victims makes it unsettling. Aside from genetic mutations and family history, researchers have yet to discover why some women develop this disease while others do not. As a matter of fact, these increased risk factors are not always involved when it comes to developing this form of cancer. Other natural factors such as early periods, late menopause, child bearing later in life, and general aging all contribute to the risks associated with the development of breast cancer.

With so much ‘unknown’, what is it then that women should know about breast cancer? Modern research admits that there simply is not enough evidence to suggest that taking, or not taking supplements such as selenium or vitamins E or C, consuming less dietary fats, or more soy products, fruits and vegetables will help protect against cancer.

What the evidence does point towards is, however, that women who gain 20 or more pounds during their adult years increased their risk of developing the disease after menopause by 40%. Women who gained more than 70 pounds doubled their risk.

According to the Mayo Clinic, women who exposed themselves to a lifetime of estrogen in the way of birth control pills or postmenopausal hormone therapy also slightly increase their risk factor.

Physical activity is known to play an important role in all aspects of a woman’s health. Numerous studies show that a woman can reduce her risk of developing breast cancer by 20% to 30% simply by participating in 3 to 4 hours of moderate to vigorous exercise per week.

Other factors such as regular alcohol consumption can also put a woman at an increased risk for developing this form of cancer, since alcohol raises the level of estrogen which is a key element to the development of breast cancer. Alcohol is thought to prohibit or interfere with the body’s ability to deal with carcinogens.

Researchers don’t fully understand why, but women with dense breasts are more likely to develop cancer than women without dense breasts. Dense breasts refer to the amount of fat versus the amount of connective and glandular tissue found in the breast. The less fat there is, the denser the breast. This is one reason why mammograms are extremely important.

For women who are considered high risk, chemoprevention can have promising results. There are several anti-estrogen drugs on the market that have been shown to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer. If you are considered to have an elevated risk it is important to talk with your doctor about taking preventative medication.