Over 50? Postmenopausal? Did you know that you could be at risk for breast cancer?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that ‘Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older’.
What is breast cancer?
CDC describes breast cancer as a ‘disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There are different kinds of breast cancer. The kind of breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer’.
Breast cancer can begin in different parts of the breast. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or lobules and can spread through blood vessels and lymph vessels, (which I honestly had no idea, did you?)
CDC states that the ‘most common kinds of breast cancer are—
Invasive ductal carcinoma. The cancer cells begin in the ducts and then grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue.
Invasive lobular carcinoma. Cancer cells begin in the lobules and then spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by.
Breast cancer symptoms
The Cancer Council mentions that ‘Some people have no symptoms and the cancer is found during a screening mammogram or a physical examination by a doctor.
If you do have symptoms, they could include:
‘new lumps or thickening in the breast, especially if in only one breast
nipple sores, change in the shape of the nipple
nipple discharge or turning in
changes in the size or shape of the breast
the skin of the breast dimpling
discomfort or swelling in the armpit
rash or red swollen breasts
ongoing pain that is not related to your menstrual cycle that remains after your period and occurs in only one breast.’
What are the risk factors for breast cancer?
Risk factors you can’t change
Getting older.
Genetic mutations.
Reproductive history.
Having dense breasts.
Personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases.
Family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
Previous treatment using radiation therapy.
Women who took the drug diethylstilboestrol (DES)
Risk factors you can change
Being physically active.
Maintain a healthy weight
Taking hormones.
Reproductive history.
Drinking alcohol.
Research suggests that ‘other factors such as smoking, being exposed to chemicals that can cause cancer, and changes in other hormones due to night shift working also may increase breast cancer risk.’
Who is at high risk for breast cancer?
If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, you may have a high risk of getting breast cancer. You may also have a high risk for ovarian cancer.
How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
Doctors will often refer women to specialists to diagnose breast problems using either an ultrasound, mammogram, MRI or by doing a biopsy.
How Is Breast Cancer Treated?
Depending on the kind of breast cancer that has been diagnosed, and how far it has spread in the body would depend on the kind of treatment, CDC states that ‘People with breast cancer often get more than one kind of treatment,’ such as surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy or radiation therapy. For more in-depth reading about treatments click here.
To find out which treatment and course of action best suits you, please speak to your doctors.
Resources -
Basic Information About Breast Cancer
What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?