What Causes Breast Cancer?
Although the precise causes of breast cancer are unclear, we know the main risk factors. Still, most women considered at high risk for breast cancer do not get it, while many with no known risk factors do develop breast cancer. Among the most significant factors are advancing age and a family history of breast cancer. Risk increases slightly for a woman who has had a benign breast lump and increases significantly for a woman who has previously had cancer of the breast or the ovaries.
A woman whose mother, sister, or daughter has had breast cancer is two to three times more likely to develop the disease, particularly if more than one first-degree relative has been affected. Researchers have now identified two genes responsible for some instances of familial breast cancer. These genes are known as BRCA1 and BRCA2. About one woman in 200 carries the genes. Having one of them predisposes a woman to breast cancer but does not ensure that she will get it.
Generally, women over 50 are more likely to get breast cancer than younger women, and African-American women are more likely than Caucasians to get breast cancer before menopause.
A link between breast cancer and hormones is gradually becoming clearer. Researchers think that the greater a woman’s exposure to the hormone estrogen, the more susceptible she is to breast cancer. Estrogen tells cells to divide; the more the cells divide, the more likely they are to be abnormal in some way, possibly becoming cancerous.
A woman’s exposure to estrogen and progesterone rises and falls during her lifetime, influenced by the age she starts and stops menstruating, the average length of her menstrual cycle, and her age at first childbirth. A woman’s risk for breast cancer is increased if she starts menstruating before age 12, has her first child after 30, stops menstruating after 55, or has a menstrual cycle shorter or longer than the average 26-29 days. Current information indicates that the hormones in birth control pills probably do not increase the risk. Some studies suggest that taking hormone replacement therapy after menopause may increase risk, especially when taken for more than five years. The jury is still somewhat out on this matter though. Heavy doses of radiation therapy may also be a factor, but low-dose mammograms pose almost no risk.
The link between diet and breast cancer is debated. Obesity is a noteworthy risk factor, and drinking alcohol regularly more than a couple of drinks a day may promote the disease. Many studies have shown that women whose diets are high in fat are more likely to get the disease. Researchers suspect that if a woman lowers her daily calories from fat to less than 20%-30% her diet may help protect her from developing breast cancer.
How come breast cancer gets its own month and special pink ribbons and fundraisers?
Breast cancer is sometimes harder to detect because of breast mass, or self breast exams that are incorrectly done or not done at all. Even though there are symptoms such as puckering of nipple, change in breast skin texture, these don’t always present themselves. Therefore many women don’t know they have it because the signs are not obvious. With lung and colon cancer there are usually more pronounced chances that will alert someone to seek help such as change in bowel habit, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, persistent cough, breathing problem, etc. Women need to be educated about the cause, early detection of breast cancer because its so hard to detect sometimes and that’s why extra effort is put into educating the public about it.
Does Breast Augmentation increase the chances to develop breast cancer?
I am wanting a breast Augmentation but Breast cancer does run in my family. Just wondering if anyone who has had this done can tell me if it will increase my chances of breast cancer. I am sure the doctor will let me know, but I don’t want to even waste my time going to the consult if the answer to my question is yes.
No it does not increase your risk of cancer at all.It does, however, make getting a mamogram a pain – and there is a slight risk of an implant ‘bursting’. wife works in the mamography dept of the hospital and is breast cancer prone
If i receive an inheritance, how would that affect my ssi & breast cancer health insurance?
If at all possible don’t tell anyone cause they will deduct what you get believe me if at all possible don’t claim it on anything cash the check & put it in a safe if in a bank they can trace it.I know this has happened to My Aunt she ended up only getting her SSI but only a quarter of it then she had to pay for all her melds & lost her insurance as well as her medicare.
Doesn’t breast implants cause breast cancer?
As it is there is no chance of getting cancer due to implants. But Doctors recommend that women with breast implants have mammograms. However, according to the FDA, pressure on the breast (compression) during mammography can cause implant rupture. In 2004, Brown ET AL reported that the FDA had received dozens of reports of implants rupturing or leaking during mammography.
Breast implants also can interfere with the accuracy of mammograms because the implant appears as a solid white shape, obscuring tumors above or below. Specific mammogram techniques have been developed to ensure that as much breast tissue as possible is examined in the woman with implants. This requires taking extra images, called displacement views, which expose the woman to more radiation. In 2004, Miglioretti and her colleagues published a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicating that 55% of breast tumors were not initially detected on mammograms for women with implants, even though the extra images were used. This compares to about 30% of tumors that were not initially detected for women who did not have breast implants. These tumors were subsequently detected in later mammograms.
In addition to making tumors more difficult to detect, implants cause “false positive” results when extensive scarring and calcium deposits mimic the appearance of cancer, making the deposits difficult to distinguish from tumors on a mammogram. Calcium deposits may be felt as modules or bumps under the skin around the implant. Biopsy may be necessary to determine whether these are cancerous.
Ultrasound and MRIs can be used to detect breast cancer instead of mammograms, but this adds to the cost of screening and probably would not be covered by health insurance.
Persons with Heriditary his try of Breast cancer are advised not to have implants. If you Dedie to have implant before doing so have mammograms done to ensure the disease is not Prue-exsisting.
What is lung cancer? Did you know that lung cancer kills more women every year than breast cancer?
Lung cancer can be caused by drinking alcohol &/or smoking. Lung cancer kills not only women but men as well, but yes. Yes, it does kill more women than breast cancer kills us women.
Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells don’t function right, divide very fast, and produce too much tissue that forms a tumor. The lungs, a pair of sponge-like, cone-shaped organs, are part of the body’s respiratory system. When we breathe in, the lungs take in oxygen, which our cells need to live and carry out their normal functions. When we breathe out, the lungs get rid of carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of the body’s cells. Cancers that begin in the lungs are divided into two major types, non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, depending on how the cells look under a microscope. Each type of lung cancer grows and spreads in different ways and is treated differently.
Does aluminum in antiperspirant add to breast cancer?
Yes, aluminum is a toxin to the body. Just because something is sold to the public doesn’t mean it is safe. Vioxx and Teflon are 2 current examples of things that are sold to the public that were later proven to be deadly.
If I have breast cancer, can I still have healthy kids?
My advice is to get a DNA-check, based upon that an indication can be made whether your child is likely to get cancer as well. If your cancer is not hormone related, it should not effect your pregnancy, as far as I know. The therapy will. It is best to discuss this with your oncologist. I just finished using Herceptin and was advised to wait 6 months to get pregnant.
can women with risk of breast cancer get implants safely?
First, you should know that I am a Plastic Surgeon specializing in Breast Surgery.
The fact is that breast implants do not in any way affect the risk of breast cancer. They can, however, affect the ability to detect breast cancer. Implants placed under the chest muscle will make mammograms less confusing. There has actually been research to show that, when breast cancer is found in a breast implant patient, it tends to be found earlier. This probably has nothing to do with the implants but, rather, that patients who are comfortable with their appearance are more likely to go for annual exams and mammography.
With such a strong family history, you need to be diligent about exams and mammography. You might also consider a discussion with your doctor or GYN about being tested for the BRCA or Breast Cancer Gene.
Do small breast women or flat chest women get cancer?
Yes. Flat chested or small breasted woman can get breast cancer too. Cancer is mostly genetic, so if it runs in your family you may be also at risk. So weather you are an A or a Double D you can get cancer.
Do women with large breasts have higher tendency of getting breast cancer?
It is just easier to detect lumps on small breasts because there is no place to hide. Bigger breasts will camouflage the lump so by the time it gets noticed it is usually huge and in an advanced stage already.
Point being everyone should go for a regular breast exam
My wife has breast cancer, ducko gram and clip now no surgeon. Please help what to do?
Medical Treatment and surgery is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges all types of medical treatment and surgery for foreigners in India. They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.
I have also read that they arrange financing for American and Canadian patients as obesity surgery is not covered by insurance.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.The cost savings are incredible. As a doctor i personally believe that your surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of health care available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.
My cousin got her obesity surgery after delivery in India through the forerunners health care .She is more than very happy with the results.She has lost 65lbs in 5 months. She just paid 25% of the amount she was quoted in USA and is all praise for this forerunners health care company.
Suppose you have breast cancer, do you get nauseated everyday at the same time?
Nausea is associated with some cancer *treatments* (such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy), but not with cancer itself (especially breast cancer). However, if you are in the first three months of pregnancy, you will likely experience both daily nausea (possibly at the same time each day) AND lumpy, sore, swollen breasts!
Can you really get breast cancer from sleeping with the lights on?
No, this isn’t correct. It’s probably another one of the silly rumors going around, like french fries and microwave popcorn. There’s no way that lights can have an effect on your breasts, if you really think about it. I mean, if they did it while you were sleeping, don’t you think that it would happen while you were awake too? Thus, it is baseless, and foolish.
Has anyone hear about the silent killer inflammatory breast cancer?
Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which breast cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This blockage may cause the breast to become red, swollen, and warm. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, purple, or bruised, and it may have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called pea derange). These changes often occur quickly over a period of weeks. Another possible sign of this type of breast cancer is swollen lymph nodes under the arm, above the collarbone, or in both places. Often, a tumor cannot be felt, and may not be seen on a mammogram. The diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer is based on the results of the biopsy and the doctor?s clinical judgment.
Inflammatory breast cancer generally grows rapidly, and the cancer cells often spread to other parts of the body. A woman with inflammatory breast cancer usually has local treatment to remove or destroy the cancer in the breast and systemic treatment to control or kill cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. Local treatment affects only cells in the tumor and the area close to it; systemic treatment affects cells throughout the body. The local treatment may be surgery and/or radiation therapy to the breast and underarm. The systemic treatment may be chemotherapy (anticancer drugs), hormonal therapy (drugs that interfere with the effects of the female hormone estrogen), or both. Systemic treatment is generally given before surgery and/or radiation therapy. In some cases, local treatment may be followed by additional systemic treatment with hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, or both. Some women also may have biological therapy (which stimulates the immune system to fight the cancer).
Researchers continue to study the effectiveness of biological therapy, new chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, and new combinations of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. Information about ongoing clinical trials (research studies) is available from the Cancer Information Service (see below), or from the clinical trials page of the National Cancer Institute?s (NCI) Cancer.gov Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials on the Internet.
can a woman with breast cancer, have breast implants put in?
Get breast reconstruction with implants surgery in India.Cosmetic Surgery is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges cosmetic surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.
I have also read that they arrange financing for American and Canadian patients as cosmetic surgery is not covered by insurance.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.The cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your breast enhancement surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of health care available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.
my cousin got her breast reconstruction with implants and liposuction through the forerunners health care.she is more than very happy with the results.she just paid 30% of the amount she was quoted in USA and is all praise for this forerunners health care company.i personally have seen the wonderful results and am particularly impressed with the kind of quality care she got from this company.
Is it true that anti-perspirants and deodorants that contain Aluminum can cause breast?
Yes it is true. It blocks the sweat glands as well which is unhealthy.
A guy I knew, his dad actually had breast cancer as a result of using aluminum based deodorants.
There are some pretty good non-aluminum deodorants out there which work well. just takes a bit of time trying different ones out
Whats the youngest age anybody heard of a lady getting breast cancer?
What treatment is out there for small brain tumors that come from breast cancer?
Can parents be screened for breast cancer?
How can I be most supportive of my best friend who has breast cancer?
Breast Cancer : How long and how much for the hormone treatment?
How long can you live with breast cancer before you die?
Is it possible to have breast cancer at 16?
Why does breast cancer get so much publicity?
How likely is it for a teen to get Breast cancer?
Can emotional trauma cause Breast cancer to grow so quickly?
How can I take precautions for Breast Cancer?
What are the chances of someone actually surviving breast cancer?
What is the youngest age you can get breast cancer at?
How exactly does breast feeding lower the risk of breast cancer?
How long can you live with untreated breast cancer and have no symptoms?
What are the chances of getting breast cancer as a 15 yr old?
What does it mean when breast cancer (level 1 tumor) has already gone into the bones?
Can a women get breast cancer by wearing a bra to sleep?