Friday, March 25, 2011

Causes of Breast Cancer

There are so many causes of breast cancer.There are so many risk factors that increase a chance of getting this disease.Some changes in DNA can cause normal breast cells to become tumor and then cancer.

DNA is the chemical in every cell from which our genes are made. Some inherited DNA mutations can increase danger for developing cancer and cause the cancers that run in some families. For instance, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes.They keep cancer tumors from forming.




These following are the main causes or factors of breast cancer :

AgeAge is a major factor of breast cancer.Breast cancer may occur at any age, though the risk of breast cancer increases with age.Breast cancer is rarely found in women younger than 35.About 2 out of 3 women with invasive breast cancer are 55 or older when the cancer is found.

Former Breast CancerA woman with a former breast cancer in one breast has three times greater  risk of developing a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This refers to the risk for developing a new tumor and not a reappearance of the first cancer.After 20 years, a woman has a 10% to 15% chance of developing a new breast cancer.

Genetic CausesAround  85% of women with breast cancer do not have history of breast cancer in their families. Of the remaining 15%, about one-third appear to have a genetic abnormality. The risk of breast cancer is about two times higher among women who have cancer history in their families.There is great interest in genes linked to breast cancer. About 5-10% of breast cancers are believed to be heredity.

Genetic Mutations
Genetic mutations are simply defined as  (permanent changes in genetic material) that place people at increased risk of breast cancer. .BRCA1 and BRCA2 are abnormal genes that, when inherited,distinctly increase the risk of breast cancer.Women who have the BRCA1 gene tend to have breast cancer at an early age.In some BRCA1 groups, there is a chance of developing both breast and ovarian cancers.

Hormones Causes
Hormones also play a vital role in the development of breast cancer.Breast cancer risk is increased in women having known exposures to sex hormones, particularly estrogen (female sex hormone). Therefore, breast cancer risk is high in women.Having a child before age 30 years may provide some protection, and having no children may increase the risk for developing breast cancer.

Environmental CausesRadiation treatment increases the risk of developing breast cancer. For example, females who received radiotherapy to the upper body for cure of some disease before 30 years of age have a incomparably higher rate of breast cancer than the general population.

Alcohol UseThe risk of breast cancer is also  increased by the use of alcohol. Women who consume one alcoholic beverage a day have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.On the other hand  breast cancer risk is nearly doubled in women who have more than three drinks in a day.

Cigarette smokingSmoking also increases the risk of breast cancer. Smoking increases the risk of so many other cancers as well as heart disease and lung emphysema.Smoking can minimize  the treatment options of breast cancer patients, since certain types of reconstructive surgery cannot be used for women who smoke.

Abortion/miscarriage historyThese factors also play a major role in increasing risk of breast cancer. Women who have had induced abortions are on higher risk of breast cancer.

ObesityIt is also proved that obesity increased risk of breast cancer. For example, the heaviest 10% of women age 50 and older may have up to a 20% higher risk of breast cancer, and the tallest 10% of women age 30 to 49 years may have a 30% higher risk.

RacismRacism also act as a factor of breast cancer.White women are slightly more likely to get breast cancer than African-American women.

Lack of exerciseresearches show that exercise decline breast cancer risk. One research found that  Walking 10 hours a week reduced the risk a little more.

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