Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cells of the breasts. It is the second most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States, after skin cancer. Breast cancer can affect both men and women, but it affects women far more frequently.
Significant support for breast cancer awareness and research funding has aided in the advancement of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths associated with the disease has been steadily decreasing, owing largely to factors such as earlier detection, a new personalized approach to treatment, and a better understanding of the disease.
The Symptoms of Breast Cancer
The symptoms of breast cancer may include:
- A lump or thickening in the breast that feels different from the surrounding tissue
- Breast size, shape, or appearance changes
- Dimpling is a change in the skin over the breast.
- A nipple that has recently been inverted
- The pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin peeling, scaling, crusting, or flaking
- Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, similar to orange skin
Make an appointment with your doctor right away if you notice a lump or other change in your breast, even if your most recent mammogram was normal.
Causes of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer develops when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally, according to doctors. These cells divide faster than healthy cells and continue to clump together to form a lump or mass. Cells in your breast may spread (metastasize) to your lymph nodes or other parts of your body.
Breast cancer is most commonly caused by cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). Breast cancer can also start in the glandular tissue known as lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissues within the breast.
Breast cancer risk factors have been identified by researchers as hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors. However, it is unclear why some people with no risk factors develop cancer while others with risk factors never do. Breast cancer is most likely caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.
What is Hereditary Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer develops when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally, according to doctors. These cells divide faster than healthy cells and continue to clump together to form a lump or mass. Cells in your breast may spread (metastasize) to your lymph nodes or other parts of your body.
Breast cancer is most commonly caused by cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). Breast cancer can also start in the glandular tissue known as lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissues within the breast.
Breast cancer risk factors have been identified by researchers as hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors. However, it is unclear why some people with no risk factors develop cancer while others with risk factors never do. Breast cancer is most likely caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.
What is Hereditary Breast Cancer?
Doctors believe that 5 to 10% of breast cancers are caused by gene mutations passed down through generations of a family.
A number of inherited mutated genes have been identified that can increase the risk of breast cancer. The most well-known are breast cancer genes 1 (BRCA1) and 2 (BRCA2), both of which increase the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.
If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or other cancers, your doctor may advise you to have a blood test to identify specific mutations in BRCA or other genes that are being passed down through your family.
Consider asking your doctor to refer you to a genetic counselor who can review your family’s medical history. A genetic counselor can also help you with shared decision-making by discussing the benefits, risks, and limitations of genetic testing.
Some Associated Risk Factors to Undermine
A potential breast cancer factor is anything that increases your chances of developing breast cancer. However, having one or more breast cancer risk considerations does not guarantee that you will develop breast cancer. Several more women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors other than the fact that they are female. The following factors have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer:
- Breast cancer strikes women far more frequently than men.
- As you get older, your chances of getting breast cancer rise. If you’ve had a breast biopsy and it revealed lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical hyperplasia of the breast, you’re at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
- If you’ve had breast cancer in one breast, you’re more likely to develop cancer in the other.
- If your mother, sister, or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, especially when they were young, your risk of developing breast cancer is increased. Nonetheless, the vast majority of breast cancer patients have no family history of the disease.
- Certain breast cancer-related gene mutations can be passed down from parents to children. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the two most well-known gene mutations. These genes can significantly increase your risk of breast cancer and other cancers, but they do not guarantee cancer.
- If you received chest radiation treatments as a child or young adult, your risk of developing breast cancer is increased.
- Obesity raises your chances of developing breast cancer.
- Starting your period before the age of 12 increases your risk of developing breast cancer.
- Menopause begins later in life. If you start menopause later in life, you are more likely to develop breast cancer.
- Women who have their first child after the age of 30 are more likely to develop breast cancer.
- Never having been pregnant. Women who have never been pregnant are more likely to develop breast cancer than those who have had one or more pregnancies.
- Women who use hormone therapy medications that combine estrogen and progesterone to treat menopausal symptoms are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. When women stop taking these medications, their risk of developing breast cancer decreases.
- Drinking alcohol raises the risk of developing breast cancer.
The Final Words
Ignoring the signs and symptoms of breast cancer can be dangerous and life-threatening. It is, therefore, advised to everyone not to ignore and neglect the small or developing signs or symptoms of breast cancer and take timely measures to ensure their well-being at all times.
