Factors affecting the risk of breast cancer

Studies have shown that your risk of breast cancer is due to a combination of factors, the main factors being: being female and getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women 50 years of age and older. What are the specific causes of breast cancer and the risk factors for this disease?

Breast cancer occurs when certain breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide faster than healthy cells and continue to accumulate, forming a mass. The cells can spread (metastasize) from the breast to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.
Breast cancer usually starts with cells in the milk ducts (invasive breast cancer). Breast cancer can also start in glandular tissue called lobules (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma) or in other cells or tissues in the breast.
Researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that can increase breast cancer risk. But it's not clear why some people with no risk factors develop cancer, while others with risk factors never develop breast cancer. It is likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction between genetic makeup and environment.

The following factors may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer:
Age. The risk of developing breast cancer increases as a woman ages, with most cancers developing in women over the age of 50.
Personal history of breast cancer . A woman who has had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of developing new cancer in the other breast.
Family history of breast cancer . Breast cancer can run in families in any of the following:
1 or more women diagnosed with breast cancer aged 45 or younger 1 or more women diagnosed with breast cancer breast cancer before age 50 with factors such as a family history of cancer, such as ovarian cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer Someone has had breast cancer and/ or ovarian cancer in several generations on one side of the family, such as having both a grandmother and aunt on the father's side of the family were both diagnosed with one of these cancers A woman in the family was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer on the same or opposite breast or with both breast and ovarian cancer One male relative diagnosed with breast cancer At least 1 relative diagnosed diagnosed with breast cancer under age 50 or ovarian, prostate and/or pancreatic cancer Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry >>> B gene mutation RCA raises breast cancer risk: Who should get tested?

You should note that you should consult a doctor if any of the above cases appear in your family. It could be a sign that your family carries a genetic mutation in breast cancer, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2.
When considering family history, it is important to consider your father's side of the family, as paternal inheritance is just as important as maternal in determining your risk of developing breast cancer .
Genetic risk / genetic predisposition. There are several inherited genes that have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, as well as other types of cancer. BRCA1 or BRCA2 are the most common mutations known in breast cancer. Mutations in these genes are associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as other types of cancer. A man's risk of breast cancer, as well as prostate cancer and other cancers, is also increased if he has a mutation in one of these genes.

Other gene mutations or inherited medical conditions may increase the risk of breast cancer. These mutations are less common than BRCA1 or BRCA2, and they do not increase the risk of breast cancer as much. Example:
Lynch syndrome, association with MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 genes Cowden syndrome (CS), association with PTEN gene Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), association with TP53 gene Peutz syndrome- Jeghers (PJS), linked to STK11 gene Ataxia-vasodilatation (A-T), linked to ATM gene Distinctive gastric cancer, linked to CDH1 gene PALB2 gene CHEK2 gene Personal history of the disease Ovarian Cancer. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes significantly increase the risk of ovarian and breast cancer. Therefore, women who are diagnosed with hereditary ovarian cancer due to mutations in the BRCA gene also have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Early menopause and late menopause. Women who start menstruating before age 11, or 12, or menopause after age 55 have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. This is because their breast cells have been exposed to estrogen and progesterone for a longer time. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones in women that control the development of secondary sex characteristics, such as breast growth and pregnancy. A woman's production of estrogen and progesterone declines with age, plummets with menopause, and longer exposure to these hormones increases breast cancer risk.
The time of pregnancy. Women who have had their first pregnancy after age 35 or have never had a full-term pregnancy have an increased risk of breast cancer. Pregnancy can help protect against breast cancer because it pushes breast cells into their final stages of maturation.
Hormone replacement therapy after menopause. Using both estrogen and progestin hormone therapy after menopause, commonly known as postmenopausal hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy, for 5 years or for several years increases a woman's risk of breast cancer .

Atypical hyperplasia of the breast. This diagnosis increases your risk of developing breast cancer in the future. It is characterized by abnormal, but not cancerous, cells found during a breast biopsy.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). LCIS ​​refers to abnormal cells found in the lobules or glands of the breast. It is not considered cancer. However, LCIS in one breast increases the risk of developing invasive breast cancer in both breasts in the future. If LCIS is found during the biopsy, additional tests may be needed.
Breast density . Dense breast tissue can make tumor detection more difficult with imaging techniques, such as mammography. Having dense breast tissue usually means you have more milk glands, milk ducts, and supporting tissue in your breasts than fat. With a mammogram, it may be more difficult for your doctor to distinguish a tumor from normal background tissue when the tissue is dense. Breast density may be due to higher estrogen levels rather than a separate risk factor, and it usually declines with age. However, at this time, there are no special screening guidelines for women with thick breasts.
>>> Association between breast density and breast cancer risk
Lifestyle factors . As with other types of cancer, studies continue to indicate that various lifestyle factors can contribute to the development of breast cancer.
Weight. Recent studies have shown that postmenopausal women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of breast cancer. These women also have a higher risk of cancer coming back after treatment. Physical activity. Less activity may be associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer and a higher risk of the cancer coming back after treatment. Regular physical activity, such as 3 to 4 hours of moderate exercise per week, may protect against breast cancer by helping women maintain a healthy body weight, reduce hormone levels or reduce changes in metabolism or decline in immune factors of women, and at the same time, strengthen the "natural killer cells" to fight the abnormal cells. Maintaining a healthy body weight may also protect against recurrence of breast cancer after a breast cancer diagnosis. Alcohol. Current research shows that drinking more than 1 to 2 servings of alcohol, including beer, wine and spirits, per day increases the risk of breast cancer, as well as the risk of the cancer coming back after treatment. You should limit alcohol to 3 to 4 servings per week. Dish. There are no reliable studies that confirm that eating or avoiding specific foods increases the risk of developing breast cancer or that the cancer comes back after treatment. However, eating more fruits and vegetables and using less animal fats has been linked to many health benefits. Socioeconomic factors. Wealthier women across all racial and ethnic groups have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than less affluent women in the same groups. The reason for this difference is not known, but it is not due to socioeconomic status. Instead, the increased risk was related to differences in risk factors among women with different levels of education and income. These differences may be due to changes in diet, environmental exposure and other risk factors. Women living in poverty are more likely to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage and less likely to survive the disease than wealthier women. This can be due to many factors, including lifestyle factors and other health conditions such as obesity and tumor biology. Exposure to radiation at a young age. Exposure to ionizing radiation at a young age may increase the risk of breast cancer in women. For example, radiation therapy to the chest for Hodgkin lymphoma may increase the risk of breast cancer in both breasts. The very small amount of radiation a woman receives during a mammogram is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a Breast Cancer Screening Package that helps detect breast cancer early even when there are no symptoms.
Breast cancer screening package at Vinmec for the following subjects:
Female customers, over 40 years old. Customers wishing to be able to screen for breast cancer Customers are at high risk of cancer – especially customers with a family history of breast cancer. Women of reproductive age, perimenopause and menopause. Women who are having symptoms of breast cancer such as: pain in the breast, palpable breast mass, etc

The article references the source: iconcancercentre.sg, cancer.net, cdc.gov