Breast or any type of cancer is something which needs a lot of courage to deal. Breast cancer is the cancer of breast tissue which affects the inner lining of milk ducts. There are many risk factors of breast cancer which can be life threatening. These risk factors are divided into non-preventable and preventable risk factors. Like other forms of cancer, breast cancer is considered as a result of different environmental or some hereditary risk factors. It is strongly believed that major risk factors of breast cancer is family history or late onset of menopause.
Following are the risk factors of breast cancer:
1. Family history
If you have sister or mother with breast cancer problem then for you, chances of getting this disease doubles. Hence family history somewhere matters a lot for breast cancer. The exact reason of breast cancer is not known yet. However, it is said that women who have family history of breast cancer have high chances of this issue. According to studies made, 15% of women with breast cancer have a family history of having someone with breast cancer.
2. Age
This is one of the non-preventable risk factor of breast cancer. The chance of breast cancer increases with age. For women, chances of getting breast cancer is more in her 60s than in her 20s. If women survive to the age of 95 years or more then the chances are more. Hence it is concluded that chances of breast cancer rises with the age. However breast cancer can be more harmful if it occurs at younger age.
3. Gender
The main risk factor of developing breast cancer is gender. Simply being women increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Compared to men, women have more breast cells which is the main reason of breast cancer. This is because, breast cell get exposed to the promoting effects of female hormones called progesterone and estrogen. Even men can develop breast cancer, however the disease is more severe in women when compared to men.
4. Menstrual periods
The risk factor of breast cancer is more among the women who have menstrual period before the age of 12 years. It also occurs in the women who get late menstrual cycle. The problem can take place at any age but mostly take place after 55 years.
5. Changes in breast cellular
If some unusual changes in breast cells are found during breast biopsy, then it can be a high risk to develop breast cancer. These changes can be abnormal appearance or overgrowth of cells.
6. Diet
Another preventable risk factor of breast cancer is diet. It is said to be a risk factor of other cancer types as well. Chances of breast cancer depend on what type of food you have every day. Red meat or any other fats of animal are responsible for breast cancer as they contain hormone which can be risky. Other factors like antibiotics and pesticides also increase the chances of breast cancer.
7. Radiation therapy to the chest
If you get a radiation therapy to the chest as a treatment for some other cancer, the chance of breast cancer increases. The increase in the risk is high if radiation therapy was given when the breast was still developing.
8. Estrogen exposure
The female hormone estrogen is responsible to stimulate the breast cell growth. If there is exposure to estrogen for long time and without any breaks, then it increases the risk of breast cancer. However, you can control some of these risk factors by losing weight and avoiding alcohol consumption.
9. DES exposure
Women who take medicines for miscarriage or medicines like diethylstilbestrol have increased susceptibility of breast cancer. Women whose mother consume this pill at time of pregnancy have high chances of breast cancer risk.
10.Smoking
This is a preventable risk factor of breast cancer. It plays a major role in causing breast cancer. Excess smoking can make your life hell. It can surely increase the chances of breast cancer. So make sure that you avoid smoking in order to reduce the chances of this problem.
Many women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Knowing the exact cause will at least reduce its symptoms and can let you live some more years.
