Women who have a family history of breast cancer are at a higher risk. These are described as hereditary and are associated with inherited gene mutations. Hereditary breast cancers tend to develop earlier in life than non-inherited (sporadic) cases. The most common genetic mutations involved in breast cancer are in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Besides family history, increasing age, obesity, alcohol, history of radiation exposure, reproductive history (such as age that menstrual periods began and age at first pregnancy), smoking and postmenopausal hormone therapy are the other causes that can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Ways to reduce breast cancer.
1. Eating a healthy diet. A balanced diet can help one stay at a healthy weight and healthy weight is a key factor in helping prevent breast cancer.
2. Breastfeeding might play a role in helping prevent breast cancer. The longer one breastfeeds, the greater the protective effect.
3. Limit the use of hormone therapy after menopause. Combination hormone therapy uses estrogen and progestin. It may raise the risk of breast cancer.
4. Stay active. Physical activity can help one stay at a healthy weight, which helps prevent breast cancer.
5. There's some evidence that hormonal types of birth control raise the risk of breast cancer. These include birth control pills and IUDs that release hormones.
6. Genetic counseling and testing must be carried out.
7. Frequent breast examination must be done.
8. Breast cancer screening tests must be done at an earlier age.
What about countries that have been exposed to wars and have a lot of radiation? Is radiation the main reason for the spread of breast cancer in them, or is family history the norm in all cases?
In my country (Algeria) an epidemiological obsevational study revealed that women with a high level consumption of milk have a relative risk of developping breast cancer.
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