Causes of Breast Cancer
Getting a breast cancer diagnosis can be a devastating experience for women. The key to an empowering breast cancer journey lies in becoming aware of various aspects of breast cancer, such as its risk factors, symptoms, treatment choices, etc. This is important for taking charge of your health through informed decision-making.
In this article, let us understand the different risk factors of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer: The Most Common Cancer Among Women Around the World
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women around the globe. While developed countries have a larger percentage of early detection cases, developing countries, such as India, see a large percentage of cases caught in later stages. The possible reasons for this include a general lack of awareness about the risk factors and symptoms, limited access to basic and advanced healthcare infrastructure in some parts of the country, and a tendency to overlook symptoms and not see a doctor until they become severe.
Understanding different risk factors can play a pivotal role in the early detection and timely medical interventions.
Understanding the Causes of Breast Cancer
We do not know the exact cause of breast cancer. However, we do know that certain factors increase the risk of mutations that cause uncontrolled division of cells in the breast and lead to cancer development. Some of these factors are modifiable, and others are not.
Let us explore the different risk factors or possible causes of breast cancer.
Lifestyle Factors
Breast cancer is associated with various lifestyle-based risk factors. These risk factors are modifiable. In other words, the breast cancer risk associated with these factors can be reduced with appropriate lifestyle modifications.
- Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption have been identified as risk factors for breast cancer. Refraining from these habits helps reduce breast cancer risk.
- Being Overweight or Obese: Being overweight and obese contributes to hormonal imbalances, especially in estrogen and insulin levels, and chronic inflammation, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. Additionally, obesity in post-menopausal women leads to higher estrogen levels, as fat cells become responsible for estrogen release after menopause.
Maintaining optimum weight is crucial for reducing the risk of breast cancer.
- A Sedentary Lifestyle: A lack of physical activity increases breast cancer risk. Regular exercise can play a significant role in reducing breast cancer risk.
- Reproductive History: Late pregnancy or not having pregnancy at all can increase breast cancer risk.
- Hormone Therapy: Hormone replacement therapy taken to manage menopause symptoms can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Environmental Factors
Certain carcinogens present in the environment can increase one’s breast cancer risk, and they are referred to as environmental risk factors.
- Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals: Exposure to harmful chemicals like dioxins, PCBs, BPAs, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, certain pesticides, and heavy metals can increase breast cancer risk.
- Exposure to Harmful Radiation: Radiation exposure to the neck and chest regions, especially at a young age, can increase the risk of breast cancer development.
Genetics
Genetics plays a critical role in breast cancer development. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRAC2 genes, certain inherited genetic conditions, and a positive family history of breast cancer contribute to increased breast cancer risk.
Other Factors
Other factors that increase the risk of breast cancer include female gender, increasing age, having dense breasts, having a history of breast cancer or other breast diseases, and a history of ovarian cancer.
What To Do When You Have Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Having breast cancer risk factors does not guarantee a breast cancer diagnosis.
However, they increase one’s chances of developing breast cancer. Therefore, those having breast cancer risk factors should consider seeing a specialist to evaluate the degree of risk they carry and learn appropriate measures that can be taken to reduce the cancer risk.
