Causes Of Breast Cancer You Should Know
Causes of breast cancer are many. Breast cancer occurs when the tissue of the breast develops malignant tumors. This disease mainly affects women, but it can also develop in men.
Thousands of women die each year from breast cancer because, unfortunately, in most cases it is discovered too late.
With today’s advanced technology and medicine, it is possible to treat breast cancer well. As a result, the life expectancy of many patients has increased significantly. But the disease is still very alarming, because often it is not detected in time.
Since knowing about breast cancer risk factors and knowing the causes of breast cancer are the keys to prevention, in this article we will share with you some of the top causes of breast cancer so you can keep those in mind.
Age and gender
As we mentioned before, this cancer mainly affects women, but men can also suffer from it. In most cases, the risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. Especially in people over the age of 50.
Men are 100 times less likely to develop this disease.
family history
Numerous studies have shown that people at the highest risk of breast cancer are those with a close relative who has had it themselves or has had cancer of the womb, cervix, ovaries, or colon.
Genetics
Breast cancer can also be caused by a defective gene inherited from both parents. Often these defects are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that are responsible for producing proteins that protect the body against cancer. A defect in both genes can increase the risk of breast cancer by up to 80% at some point in life.
Menstrual cycle
Women who got their first period before the age of 12 are at a higher risk. While women who reach menopause after age 55 are also at higher risk.
History of the disease
Women who have had breast cancer have a higher risk of developing cancer in the other breast or may get it again in the same breast.
Alcohol consumption
According to several studies, drinking one or two alcoholic drinks per day can increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
Pregnancy
Women who are childless or wait to have children until they are older than 30 have an increased risk of breast cancer. Having more than one pregnancy earlier in life reduces the chances of developing this disease.
Hormone therapy
Women who have undergone estrogen therapy for a longer period of time have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Obesity
Although this risk factor has not been fully researched, experts believe that obese women produce more estrogen, which may increase the development of this disease. The risk is even higher for women over 50 years old who are obese.
irradiation
Exposure to X-rays and CT scans (also known as TAC) significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer. If you had radiation therapy as a child or adult to treat cancer in the breast area, the risk of breast cancer is even higher. The risk is also compounded by the dose of radiation received and the age at which you received it.
Diet
While research has shown conflicting results when it comes to your diet and breast cancer risk, most studies agree that maintaining a poor diet can be an important risk factor. Eating a lot of processed foods, meat, saturated fats, sugars and the like can increase your risk of developing this disease.
Unproven Causes of Breast Cancer
For years, many women have been alarmed by myths that discourage the use of deodorant and bras due to breast cancer risk factors, but so far there is no direct link between them and developing the disease. Other factors, such as breast implants and exposure to pesticides, also do not show an increased risk.