Breast Cancer: Are You at Risk?

According to World Health Organization (WHO), Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed in countries across the world every October helps increase attention & support for awareness, early detection, treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Globally cancers of various types affect millions of people and lead to loss of lives. Breast Cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women which results from genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors leading to the accumulation of mutations in essential genes. One of the major issues with breast cancer is that it is often not detected soon enough due to low awareness about the disease. Detecting it early can significantly reduce the death risk. Breast cancer occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer accounts for 14% of all cancers in women. Incidences in India begin to occur in women in their early thirties and gradually peak in women between the ages 50-64 years. On average, 1 in 28 women is likely to develop breast cancer during her lifetime (1). In urban areas, 1 in 22 women is likely to develop breast cancer during her lifetime as compared to rural areas where 1 in 60 women develops breast cancer in her lifetime (2).

Are You at Risk? “Breast cancer risk factor” can be defined as anything that increases a person’s chances of developing cancer. But, having a risk factor does not mean that one will definitely develop breast cancer later in life. Some risk factors are those that one cannot change and/or control like genetic factors and family history while some other factors that can be modified are related to lifestyle.

Genetic Factors: If one has inherited certain gene mutations from parents, one is at an increased risk for breast cancer. The most common known gene mutations observed in people with breast cancers are in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Family History of Breast Cancer: A woman’s risk of breast cancer increases if her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly at a young age.

Although, it is impossible to change the family history or genetic makeup of any individual, knowing that one is at higher risk can help create a detection plan to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages while it is still localized, and easier to treat.

What Can You do to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

Control of body weight: Women with healthy body weight have a considerably lower chance of developing breast cancer compared to women who are either obese or overweight.

Limited or no consumption of alcohol: Women should avoid alcohol or drink it in moderation (no more than one alcoholic drink per day).

No smoking:  If one doesn’t smoke, one shouldn’t start. If however, one does smoke, one should use every resource available to help quit. Smoking causes a number of diseases and is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in younger, premenopausal women.

Be physically active: Love it or hate it, it’s a well-established fact that physical activity helps keep you healthy. Exercising regularly has been shown to reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.

Avoid exposure to radiation: Moderate to high-doses of exposure to ionizing radiation increases the risk of breast cancer.

Breastfeed: Women who breastfeed run a lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to women who don’t.

Prevention is Always Better Than Cure: According to a report by the WHO, the majority of deaths due to breast cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries, where most women with breast cancer are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. This is mainly due to the lack of awareness about early detection and barriers to health services-access.

Breast Self-Examination (BSE): Women should have a clear knowledge of how their breasts look and feel normally. Breasts should be felt/self examined regularly and medical advice sought promptly if any changes are noticed. BSE is recommended for women above the age of 20 years so that early signs of breast cancer can be detected. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout will lower the risk of developing breast cancer.

References:

1. Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Ervik M, et al. GLOBOCAN 2012 v1.0, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 11 [Internet]. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2013.
2. 2.  Bray F, Ren JS, Masuyer E, et al. Estimates of global cancer prevalence for 27 sites in the adult population in 2008.; 2013; Int J Cancer.; 132(5):1133-45.