All factors that can increase the likelihood of developing a disease are considered risk factors. However, the presence of a risk factor does not necessarily mean that they will get the disease, it simply indicates an increased probability relative to other people in general. There are different risk factors for different cancers. While there is nothing that can be done for risk factors that cannot be changed such as age, gender, genetic characteristics, there are also risk factors that can be changed by making some lifestyle choices. By choosing the healthiest lifestyle, you can ensure that your breast cancer risk is as low as possible.
Risk factors
GENDER
Being a woman is the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer. Less than 1% of breast cancers occur in men.
AGE
The risk of breast cancer increases with age. While two-thirds of breast cancers occur in women aged 55 and over, only a few are seen under the age of 30.
FAMILY HISTORY
The risk is increased in women with a family history of breast cancer. While the risk increases 2 times in those who have breast cancer in first-degree relatives (such as mother, sister and daughter), the risk of having the cancer in 2 first-degree relatives increases 5 times. Familial breast cancer started at a young age (pre-menopausal) and the risk increases further if it is bilateral.
GENETICS
About 5-10% of breast cancers are caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child It is thought to develop as a result of an inherited disorder caused by it. Genes are short pieces of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) found in chromosomes.
DNA changes are divided into those that are hereditary and those that occur over time. Inherited DNA changes are passed from parent to child.
DNA changes that occur over a lifetime as a result of the natural aging process or exposure to chemicals in the environment are called somatic changes. Some DNA changes are harmless, while others can cause diseases. Changes in DNA that adversely affect health are called mutations.
Most hereditary breast cancers are BRC It is associated with mutations in the A1 and BRCA2 genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations constitute 10% of all breast cancers.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are found in all humans. The function of BRCA genes is to repair cell damage and ensure normal growth of breast, ovary and other cells. However, when these genes contain mutations, the genes cannot function normally and the risk of developing breast, ovarian and other cancers increases.
Having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation does not necessarily mean that you will develop breast cancer, but your risk of breast cancer increases significantly. Women with a change in one of these genes have a lifetime risk of developing breast cancer between 50-85%.
Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and diagnosed with breast cancer usually have breast cancer, ovarian cancer and other cancers in their family.
You are significantly more likely to have a genetic mutation linked to breast cancer if:
If you have a family history of breast cancer before age 50
If someone in the family has both breast and ovarian cancer
A relative with triple negative breast cancer You have(s)
If you have other cancers in your family other than breast, such as prostate, melanoma, pancreas, stomach, uterus, thyroid, colon and/or sarcoma
Women in your family have cancer in both breasts
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 35
If a man in your family has breast cancer
If you have a known abnormal breast cancer gene in your family
HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER
Cancer in one breast The probability of developing a new cancer in the other breast or in a different part of the same breast is 3-4 times higher. This is different from the risk of recurrence (recurrence). If you had radiation to your face to treat acne as a teenager (something that is no longer done), you have a higher risk of developing breast cancer later in life. The amount of increased risk depends on how old you were when you received radiation. Your breasts are developing into puberty. The increase in risk is greatest if you've had radiation to your chest.
There is also concern that women treated with radioactive iodine for thyroid disease may have a higher risk of breast cancer, but study results are mixed. Some studies also suggest that there is something about the biology of thyroid cancer that may increase the risk of breast cancer. Your risk of cancer is higher than average. The amount of increased risk depends on how old you were when you received radiation. Radiation received during adolescence, when the breasts are developing, poses the highest risk. Radiation therapy applied after the age of forty does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
BENIGN BREAST CHANGES
Some benign breast conditions may increase the risk of breast cancer. There are several types of benign breast conditions that affect breast cancer risk:
Overgrowth of normal-appearing cells (proliferative lesions that do not show atypia):
Conditions where there is excessive cell proliferation but normal cells in the milk ducts and milk glands that make up the breast tissue. They increase the risk of breast cancer by 1.5-2 times. These are:
ductal hyperplasia (without atypia)
complex fibroadenoma
sclerosing adenosis
papilloma or papillomatosis
Radial scar
Overgrowth of abnormal-looking cells ( proliferative lesions with atypia):
In these lesions, besides excessive cell proliferation in milk ducts and milk glands, abnormal structure is seen in cells. They increase the risk of breast cancer 4-5 times. These are;
atypical ductal hyperplasia
atypical lobular hyperplasia
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LKIS):
Abnormal cell growth in the breast lobules. Although it has the word "carcinoma" in its name, it is not a true breast cancer. It indicates a high risk of breast cancer, increases the risk of breast cancer 7-11 times. The risk is even greater if there is LCIS and a strong family history.
IRK
Breasts are composed of fibrous tissue (connective tissue), glandular tissue (milk-producing tissue), and adipose tissue. Excess of glandular tissue and fibrous tissue in the breast, adipose tissue Less flour is called “dense breast tissue” or “fibroglandular tissue”. This increases the risk of breast cancer. Dense breast tissue also complicates the evaluation of mammograms.
Having dense breasts is normal, not a disease and does not cause symptoms. It cannot be understood by touching the breast whether it has dense tissue. Dense breast tissue can only be seen on a mammogram.
DENSITY OF BREAST TISSUE (DENS BREAST)
Breasts are composed of fibrous tissue (connective tissue), glandular tissue (milk-producing tissue) and adipose tissue. Excess of glandular tissue and fibrous tissue and less adipose tissue in the breast is called “dense breast tissue” or “fibroglandular tissue”. This increases the risk of breast cancer. Dense breast tissue also complicates the evaluation of mammograms.
Having dense breasts is normal, not a disease and does not cause symptoms. It cannot be understood by touching the breast whether it has dense tissue. Dense breast tissue can only be seen on a mammogram.
MENARCH HISTORY (EARLY MENARCH - LATE MENOPEASE)
Women who start menstruating early (less than 12 years old) and go through late menopause (after 55 years) have a higher risk of breast cancer. Female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) play an important role in the development of breast cancer. The longer a woman menstruates, the higher her lifetime exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
FACTORS RELATED TO LIFESTYLE
BIRTH HISTORY
Never Being childless or having your first child after age 30 increases the risk of breast cancer. Multiple pregnancies or pregnancies at a young age reduce the risk of breast cancer. Breast cells are initially immature and very active until the first birth. Immature breast cells respond to hormone-disrupting chemicals as well as estrogen. Childbirth allows breast cells to fully mature and grow more regularly. This is the main reason why pregnancy helps protect against breast cancer. In addition, being pregnant reduces the total number of menstrual cycles.
NURTICATION
Breastfeeding, especially for longer than 1 year, may reduce the risk of breast cancer. here The protective effect in breast-feeding may be associated with a decrease in menstrual periods during breastfeeding. Before the relationship between HRT and breast cancer risk was understood, HRT was widely used to relieve menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, fatigue) and reduce bone loss. Its use declined significantly after 2002, when the risk posed by HRT was understood.
OVER WEIGHT AND OBESITY
Overweight and obese women (with a BMI above 25) have a higher risk of breast cancer compared to women who maintain a healthy weight, especially after menopause. In addition, being overweight can increase the risk of recurrence (recurrence) in women with breast cancer. After menopause, estrogen production from the ovaries stops and adipose tissue becomes the main source for this hormone. More adipose tissue means higher estrogen levels and a greater risk of breast cancer. Still, the link between overweight and breast cancer is complex and influenced by other factors. For example, the location of excess fat is also important. Excess fat around the abdomen is riskier than the same amount of excess fat around the thighs or hips.
ALCOhol CONSUMPTION
Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer. Alcohol can increase estrogen and other hormone levels, as well as increase the risk of breast cancer by damaging the DNA in cells. Compared to women who never drink, women who drink three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer.
LOW PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
There is increasing evidence that regular exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer. Regular exercise at a moderate or intense level for 4-7 hours a week has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer. People who exercise regularly tend to be healthier and more likely to maintain a healthy weight and have less fat than people who do not exercise.
SMOKING
Smoking is associated with many diseases.
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