A strong family history of breast cancer in the parent or her sibling or among one’s own siblings leads to a genetic configuration suitable for occurrence of breast cancer.
A woman who had breast cancer on one side has high risk of developing same disease in the opposite breast.
Early occurrence of menarche (when a girl starts to get menstrual cycles) and late onset of menopause exposing the female breast to a longer period of hormonal influence is another important factor. But, early pregnancy and childbearing and breast feeding the baby have preventive/protective effect against breast cancer.
External Risk Factors:
Hormonal medications: Hormone containing medications like birth control pills and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT ) sometimes given to women after hysterectomy or on reaching menopause do seem to have some influence in initiation and growth of breast cancer. If both groups of medications are taken they are more harmful anti-oestrogen drug called tamoxifen used in treatment of certain types of breast cancer is believed to have some preventive action against breast cancer. But, the drug has other side effects and to be taken under proper medical advice.
Diet and Exercise : Regular intake of high fat diet or actual obescity in women increases risk of breast cancer. But, low fat diet will not reduce risk as a result of other factors. Several vitamins and other anti-oxidants in diet have preventive effect. Regular exercise, apart from its effect on obesity may decrease hormone levels in women and thus, have some beneficial effect against breast cancer.
Exposure to Radiation : Any radiation in young age like a simple X-ray of chest, but particularly repeated/prolonged exposure as in cases of X-ray treatment for hodgkin’s disease (a type of cancer) in childhood seems to be linked to breast cancer. Radiations also occur in CT scans, other X-rays, Mammograms etc and have cumulative effect over a lifetime. It is a professional hazard for those dealing with ionising radiation.
Environmental Pollution : Various chemical agents found in minute quantities in several items used by us in daily life like detergents, shampoo, paper, disinfectants, bleaching agents, sprays and spray paints, chemicals used in some plastics etc are carcinogenic in relation to breast cancer and other cancers too. Soot and chemicals released by factories, automobiles and diesel trucks and tobacco smoke, particularly second hand tobacco smoke are all harmful. Chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the main culprits, which may produce DNA damage and increased risk of breast cancer.
Food contamination : Some pesticides used on fruits and vegetables and found in minute quantity in the items sold in the market have been linked to cancer. Hormones used on livestock to increase yield may also have carcinogenic effect on breast cancer.
Prevention of BC :
Be knowledgeable about breast cancer.
Know your family history in relation to breast cancer and take suitable proactive steps. As a parent, get your girls to know all about genetics early in life.
Avoid obesity at all costs and to whatever extent possible.
Diet and exercise : Eat a variety of foods. Take plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and grain products. Take diet low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in sugars and salt. Regular and lifelong commitment to physical activity and exercises as part of daily routine and maintain ideal bodyweight.
Take suitable actions to reduce exposure to various carcinogenic agents in our daily life. Try and use safe house hold products and safe guard against possible contaminants in food products, vegetables and fruits in daily use.
- No to smoking and also avoid passive smoking too.
- Decide intelligently and in consultation with your doctor, about use of ’pills’ and later HRT.
- Learn and practice ’Breast self examination" around 30’s and seek expert help. Avoid indiscriminate use of X-rays and exposure to radiation including mammogram itself.
Breast Self Examination (BSE) :
This is the safest and most effective and least expensive method of detecting breast cancer in relatively early stage, when proper treatment is likely to cure the disease.
Details of how to do BSE properly and effectively to benefit from it will be elaborated in our next mid-monthly newsletter.
Drinking alcohol, not at all or in moderation.