Breast Cancer is the uncontrolled
growth of breast cells. Most breast cancers take 6 to 8 years to
become big enough to be able to be seen on a mammogram or felt. You CANNOT
feel a slow-growing breast tumor by touch until it is 0.4 inc (1 cm) in
diameter, which makes the mammogram so vital
for early detection.
Although it
can occur in men and women, breast cancer is by far more common in women.
Common risk factors for breast cancer
in women:
§
Older age.
§
Obesity & lack of physical exercise.
§
Diet high in fat and sugar.
§
High cholesterol.
§
Heavy drinking & smoking.
§
Hormone replacement therapy during menopause.
§
Chest ionizing radiation.
§
First menstruation before 12.
§
First birth after age 30 or no pregnancy.
IMPORTANT: You can reduce your risk by practicing a healthy lifestyle, by knowing the risk factors, and by planning
and sticking to early detection testing.
Risk factors for breast cancer in men:
§ Age-Most
breast cancers happen to men between ages 60 and 70.
§ Breast
cancer in a close female relative.
§ Diet rich in fats and sweets.
§ Obesity & lack of physical exercise.
§ Heavy drinking & smoking.
§ Radiation
exposure of the chest.
§ Enlargement of breasts (gynecomastia) caused by drug or
hormone treatments, infections and poisons.
§ Taking
estrogen.
§ Klinefelter's
syndrome, rare genetic
disease.
§ Cirrhosis.
§ Diseases of the testicles: mumpsorchitis, a testicular
injury, undescended testicle.
The cancer is typically detected as a hard
lump under the nipple
and areola. It has a higher
mortality rate than female cancer mostly because men assume this condition is a women's
disease and they delay medical advice and
treatment.
Common risk factors for senior women:
§ Age - Two in three women
over 55 are at risk to develop the cancer.
§ Genes
– About 10% of breast
cancer cases in seniors are hereditary. Know your parents' medical history.
§ Lack
of physical exercise.
§ Diet high in fats and sugars.
§ Obesity –Fat tissue stores estrogen, so if you are overweight
after menopause you have an increased chance of developing breast cancer.
Overweight leads to higher blood insulin levels which have also been linked to
breast cancer.
§ Alcohol Intake – If you have more than one alcohol drink per day you have a one and a half times the risk of
developing breast cancer as a non-drinker.
