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Posts Tagged ‘Breast Cancer’

A “risk factor” is anything that increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Many of these risk factors beyond your control, for example, age, family history and personal. However, there are some you can control, such as weight, physical activity and consumption of alcohol.

Ask your doctor about possible risk factors for breast cancer presenting your case. You may be able to take steps to reduce the risk of breast cancer, and your doctor can help you devise a plan for that purpose. Your doctor, meanwhile, should be aware of any other risk factors you can not manage to fully understand the level of risk you present. This allows you to make recommendations on screening tests for the disease: what tests you should get and when you should start with them.

Risk factors you can control
Weight. Being overweight is a risk of breast cancer, especially postmenopausal women. Fat tissue is the main source of estrogen that has the body after menopause when the ovaries stop producing the hormone. A greater amount of fat tissue implies a higher level of estrogen, which may increase the risk of breast cancer.

Diet. Diet is reportedly a risk factor for many cancers, including breast cancer, but has not yet been determined with certainty what types of foods increase the risk. A good start might be to avoid red meat and other animal fats (including milk-fat cheese, milk and ice cream) because they may contain hormones, growth factors, antibiotics and pesticides. Some researchers believe that eating too much cholesterol and other fats is a risk factor, and some studies indicate that eating red meat or processed in excess carries a high risk of breast cancer. The most recommended is eating a diet low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables. For more information, visit our page on healthy eating to reduce cancer risk * Nutrition section. Read the rest of this entry »

A risk factor is any factor (in English) that increases the possibility that a person will develop cancer. Although risk factors can influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause disease. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while they do other people without known risk factors. However, knowing your risk factors and see your doctor, you can make smarter decisions about their lifestyle and health care.

Many breast cancers occur in women without apparent risk factors and no family history of breast cancer. This means that all women should be alert to possible changes in the breasts and talk to your doctor for regular clinical breast exams (breast exam by a physician) and mammograms (breast x-rays can detect a tumor too small to be felt). It is likely that more than one risk factor to influence the development of breast cancer.

The following factors may raise a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer:

Age. The risk of developing breast cancer increases as women age and, in most cases the disease develops in women over 50 years.

Personal history of breast cancer. A woman who has had breast cancer in one breast has a probability of 1% to 2% per year of developing a second breast cancer in the other.

Family history of breast cancer. Women who have a first degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) that has been diagnosed with breast cancer are at increased risk for the disease. Having more than one first degree relative with breast cancer risk increases even more, especially if it is diagnosed at an early age, because this could indicate heritable genetic changes (see information below). Women who have a second-degree relative (aunt, niece, grandmother, granddaughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer also have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. In evaluating family history, you should also consider the father’s side (paternal) family, the same way that the side of the mother (maternal). For example, you may be at greater risk if the mother’s sister or his father had cancer.

Genetic predisposition. Mutations in genes 1 or 2 breast cancer ( BRCA1 or BRCA2 ) are associated with increased risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. There are blood tests ( genetic tests , in English) to detect the known mutations to these genes, but not recommended them to everyone and take place only after the person has received appropriate genetic counseling (in English). The men of the family may also have mutations in these genes. The cases of breast or ovarian cancer in the paternal side of the family significantly increase the risk of breast or ovarian cancer hereditary (in English). Researchers estimate that BRCA1 , the BRCA2 and other genes associated with risk of breast cancer account for 5% to 10% of all breast cancers. If a woman knows she has one of these genetic mutations may follow certain steps to reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Learn more about the genetics of breast cancer (in English).

Personal history of ovarian cancer. The history of ovarian cancer can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Mutations in the breast cancer genes such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 , can significantly increase the risk of ovarian and breast (in English).

Exposure to estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone are female hormones that control the development of secondary sex characteristics (such as breast development) and pregnancy. The production of estrogen and progesterone decreases at menopause. Prolonged exposure to these hormones increases the risk of breast cancer.

Women who begin menstruating before age 11 or age 12 or went through menopause after age 55 have increased risk of breast cancer because breast cells are exposed to estrogen and progesterone for a longer time.

Women who had their first pregnancy after age 35 or who never had a pregnancy to term are at increased risk of breast cancer. Pregnancy can act as protection against breast cancer because it pushes breast cells into the last stage of maturation. Breastfeeding may also help reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Hormone replacement therapy after menopause. Recent use (within the last 5 years) and long-term use (several years or more) of hormone replacement therapy (postmenopausal) increase the risk of a woman suffering from cancer breast. In fact, the number of newly diagnosed breast cancer has been reduced by the lower number of women receiving hormone replacement therapy.

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills). Some studies suggest that oral contraceptives slightly increase the risk of breast cancer, while others have shown no relationship between oral contraceptive use and breast cancer development. This topic is still under investigation.

Race and Ethnicity. While white women are more likely to develop breast cancer, black women are more likely to die from the disease. Still unclear reasons for the differences in survival and probably involve both socioeconomic and biological factors. Women of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage are also at higher risk of developing breast cancer due to mutations of BRCA .

Atypical hyperplasia of the breast. This alteration increases the risk of breast cancer and is characterized by the presence of abnormal cells, but not cancer, who are in a breast biopsy.

LCIS. As explained in Section Overview , this classification of cancer refers to abnormal cells in the lobules or mammary glands. LCIS ​​increases the risk of developing invasive breast cancer (cancer that spreads to surrounding tissues). If LCIS is found, it may Excise to look at other possible changes. Ask your doctor about the best way to control this disease.

Lifestyle factors. As with other types of cancer, studies continue to show that various lifestyle factors may contribute to breast cancer.

Recent studies have shown that obese postmenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer.

Lack of exercise can increase the risk of developing breast cancer because exercise lowers levels of hormones, alters the metabolism and improves the immune system. Increased physical activity is associated with a lower risk of developing breast cancer.

Drinking more than two alcoholic drinks (including beer, wine and liquor) per day increases the risk of breast cancer.
Radiation. High doses of ionizing radiation (eg X-rays or from tanning booths) can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. However, the minimum amount of radiation a woman receives during annual mammography has not been associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Breast density dense breast tumors may be more difficult to detect on mammography. However, researchers are also evaluating whether breast density increases the risk of developing breast cancer.

Five out of every 100 000 women die in Cochabamba by breast cancer each year. The number of deaths due to this tumor disease has placed among the top three causes of death in women in the department as responsible for Oncology Hospital Viedma, María del Carmen Torrico.

Given the high incidence of this disease, yesterday, dozens of institutions marched along with the Departmental Health Service (Headquarters), to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer that is curable if detected early.

In Bolivia, 26 of every 100 000 women develop breast cancer and eight of them die from this disease. Therefore, the Ministry of Health developed the National Plan for Prevention, Control and Monitoring Breast Cancer Prevention, Control and Monitoring in order to reduce the incidence and mortality from this disease.

For one of the survivors of this disease, Mirtha Cadima, “pay attention … the cancer is due, do not be lazy, look for information: they can do BSE, mammograms, you have to live positively.”

Yesterday, the Columbus square was the scene of the culmination of a march and education fair in commemoration of World Day for Breast Cancer, women trying to become aware of the importance of early control.

On the mobilization against breast cancer, the hospital director Viedma, Sonia Crespo said: “This movement is growing and we now have the whole idea of ​​working on prevention rather than treatment and rehabilitation.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every 30 seconds somewhere in the world are diagnosed with breast cancer. The advice is that women perform self-examination every month and seven days of your period or rule. The most widespread technique is to stand in front of the mirror, to detect any changes: lump in the breast or skin changes. Then you can take and slide their fingers around the breasts, and finally examines the nipple in order to feel balls.

A family history of breast cancer risk multiplied by two or three. Some mutations, especially in the genes BRCA1, BRCA2 and p53, are associated with a high risk of such cancer. However, these mutations are rare and explain only a small fraction of the total burden of breast cancer.

Reproductive factors associated with prolonged exposure to endogenous estrogens, such as early menarche, late menopause and middle age when the first childbirth are among the most important risk factors for breast cancer. Exogenous hormones also carry an increased risk of breast cancer, so that users of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy are more likely than women not using these products. Breastfeeding has a protective effect (IARC, 2008, Lacey et al., 2009).

Danaei and colleagues (Danaei et al., 2005) have calculated the contribution of modifiable risk factors, except for reproductive factors, to the global burden of breast cancer. The authors conclude that 21% of all breast cancer deaths reported in the world are attributable to alcohol consumption, overweight and obesity, and lack of physical activity.

This proportion was higher in high-income countries (27%), and the most important factor was the overweight and obesity. In countries of low and middle income, the proportion of breast cancers attributable to these risk factors was 18%, and lack of physical activity was the most important factor (10%).

The different incidence of breast cancer in the developed and developing countries can be partly explained by the effects of food, coupled with higher age at first pregnancy, lower parity and shortened lactation (Peto, 2001). The increasing adoption of Western lifestyles in countries of low and middle income is an important determinant of increased breast cancer incidence in these countries.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in both developed and developing countries. The incidence of breast cancer is increasing in the developing world due to increased life expectancy, increasing urbanization and the adoption of Western lifestyles.

Although to some extent reduce the risk, prevention strategies can not eliminate the majority of breast cancers that occur in low-income countries and middle-diagnosis of the problem is in very advanced stages. Thus, early detection in order to improve the prognosis and survival of these cases remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control.

The recommended screening strategies for low-income countries and media are aware of early signs and symptoms, and screening based on clinical examination of the breasts in demonstration areas. Screening mammography is very expensive and is recommended for countries with good health infrastructure and can afford a long-term.

Many countries in middle-income countries facing the double burden of cervical cancer and breast cancer should undertake cost-effective and affordable interventions to address these largely preventable diseases.

WHO promotes breast cancer screening in the context of national programs to combat cancer by integrating prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. The Organization, with the support of the Komen Foundation is conducting a 5-year study on the cost-effectiveness of breast cancer control in ten countries of low and middle income.

The project includes a tool for estimating costs of programs to evaluate the possibilities of financing. It is expected that the results of this project will provide data to formulate appropriate policies for breast cancer in underdeveloped countries.

The detection of a tumor early in its development, in addition to regular medical examinations and a healthy lifestyle are the keys to various oncology specialists explained to lanacion.com, following the death of the driver model and Patrick Miccio, one of the main faces of the fight against breast cancer in the country.

Oncologists consulted agreed that the smaller the tumor, the greater the chances of cure. And put the figure of 90 to 95 percent, providing a diagnosis very early, making it possible to detect the tumor when it has not grown an inch in one breast and no lymph node involvement.

“When it comes to prevention against breast cancer should speak of two types: primary prevention, which includes care that should lead a person through the adoption of healthy eating and healthy weight and be physically active at least 30 minutes per day, and campaigns and measures by the state to have a healthy society. On the other hand, attention should be secondary prevention, covering preventive medical examinations to detect possible tumor when it is too small”, told lanacion.com Dr. Antonio Lorusso, an oncologist and medical director of LALCEC, Argentina Fight League Against Cancer.

The expert stressed the importance of women to have annual or biennial mammography from age 40 (at 30 those who have had a family history), since it is the most effective instrument to detect a possible tumor in his first stages and is curable. “Finding cancer in place in time, it means that cancer is curable, it can be removed through a small surgery, which involves mastectomy (breast removal) and that this woman may in the future to nurse a baby no problem, “said Lorusso-gynecology professor at UBA, which is not ruled out other diagnostic methods like physical examination by touch or a breast ultrasound.

Dr. Berta Roth, president of the Argentina Association of Cancer (ASARCO), said by e-mail to lanacion.com that “Breast cancer is a public health problem and the best way of reducing mortality is through prevention operation of the various areas of early diagnosis and treatment in public and private health.”

“There is an ongoing national program aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality and morbidity of the disease with fewer mastectomies, less radiation, less and less after-effects of chemotherapy treatment,” analyzed the oncologist who is also head of the Area Radiotherapy and Imaging Institute Roffo Angel of the UBA.

Prime suspect. “Suspecting the existence of a breast cancer gets a small piece of tissue through a core biopsy, guided by palpation, a preoperative diagnostic procedure widely used in recent years,” said Dr. Daniel Eduardo Levy, Chief of Oncology at the Hospital Rivadavia.

Levy said that the sample is sent to the pathologist for analysis and then that information is derived from the mastologists, which will analyze the procedure such as surgery for retaining the breast, or mastectomy if the tumor is more advanced, and other alternative treatments such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, depending on prognostic factors.

“In early stages the best treatment is a lumpectomy followed by radiation treatment six weeks. According to risk factors for chemotherapy is indicated. The evolution of these treatments is to surgery followed by irradiation accelerated partial breast with potential advantages of reduced treatment time, decrease costs, improve quality of life and eliminating the problem of the sequence of treatments, especially chemotherapy, “Roth specified.

“It is extremely important that women have no symptoms that you query the doctor regularly, in addition to a routine mammogram, every one to two years, according to the schedule recommended by the mastologists-and self-examination every month,” noted Levy, who like his colleagues said breast cancer, usually starting with microcalcifications, spills of blood or fluid from the nipple, is one of the tumors more easily detected and treated early is, in almost all cases, curable.
“In recent years, advances in diagnosis and improved treatment and application of knowledge about tumor biology have led to markedly increase the proportion of women who remain free of relapse after starting treatment. The sooner it is detected and cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chances of successful curative treatment, “Roth analyzed.

According to experts, within the measures of early detection, along with mammography, the traditional self becomes a key element that must be responsive to any change in the surface of the breast, touching deeply feel the same for any rigid object , which in some cases are detected through the pain.

Statistics. The statistical numbers that handle medical associations in Argentina indicate that each year there are between 15,000 and 18,000 new cases of breast cancer. In this regard, stressed that one in nine Argentine develop a tumor in the breast during their lifetime, making this disease one of the most common cancers of the female.
In our country, breast cancer tops the list of oncological diseases in women, where the annual death rate from this disease is at 20.4 per 100,000 according to the atlas prepared by Elena Doria Matos and Loria, Department of Carcionogénesis Roffo Institute. Next in descending order cervical cancer (10.7), colorectal (9.0), lung (6.9), pancreas (5.5) and ovary (4.0).

The World Health Organization issued a report which specifies that this disease is the leading cause of death in women between 35 and 65, ahead of cardiovascular disease. And that cancer in general has increased 30 percent over the past 40 years. Cancer causes 13.2 million deaths in 2030, 72 percent more than in 2008 and 21.4 million new diagnosed cases, according to the report Globocan International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to investigators, the importance of this study is that it is the first that has investigated the association between taking aspirin during adulthood and breast cancer risk. The findings provide evidence that their use during adulthood could bring benefits. ” In fact, findings have revealed an inverse association between aspirin consumption and the risk of breast cancer, especially in women who drank two or more tablets.

The study analyzed both the frequency of monthly use of aspirin as the number of tablets in each shot. The results showed “a 20% decrease in the risk of developing breast cancer among women who said they had taken low dose aspirin during the year preceding the study.” In addition, patients who consumed two or more tablets were suffering the largest decline, to 26%.

The benefit of aspirin was recorded throughout all decades of life, while reducing the risk of breast cancer was higher in the seventh, ie the group of women aged between 61 and 70 years, reaching 27%. The following age groups with better percentages were between 51 and 60, and between 31 and 40, with 21%.

In addition to the parameters of frequency of use and number of tablets, the study also took into account various risk factors in breast cancer, as body mass index, the physical exercise, or family background and as patients taking NSAIDs because of other diseases such as hypertension, heart disease and / or cerebrovascular disease, diabetes or arthritis.

Although it is still unclear the mechanism by which aspirin may act on the tumor, the authors of this study shows that chronic inflammation may play an important role in carcinogenesis or initial tumor formation in several organs, including breast, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are proving to have preventive effects by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandins (molecules involved in inflammation).

This study adds to previous work done in this regard, as conducted by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School (USA) 2 by more than 4,000 women, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and according to the which ‘the regular consumption of aspirin may increase the survival of women diagnosed with breast cancer and reduce the risk of metastasis by 50% compared with those who do not use this drug on a regular basis. ” Specifically, this study revealed that the risk of metastasis and death from breast cancer in women taking aspirin two to five days a week were 60% and 71% lower, respectively. In patients taking aspirin for six to seven times per week, these percentages were found to be 43% and 64%.

This latest study by the School of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Buffalo (USA) continues to advance knowledge of aspirin in the oncology sector, although this does not mean you can extrapolate your daily intake for this purpose. This is not an indication of the drug approved in Spain.

Before the publication of certain information that question the validity of mammograms in reducing mortality rates from breast cancer, the Spanish Federation of Breast Cancer makes the following points:

or regret that for some reason interested, any news broadcast is put into question the benefits of mammography. Fortunately, experience and sound scientific data confirm that mammography remains today the best tool to detect breast cancer and therefore the need for women to come to the early detection campaigns when called to get a mammogram .

or How old? There is a fairly general consensus on the age group to begin screening campaigns. That stretch is between 50 and 69, although some Autonomous Communities who start screening at age 45. Certainly the trend is to begin at age 45, but must be the scientific community to confirm the benefits of revised downwards the reference age to begin screening.

There will be individual cases or where because of family history to detect any abnormality, or other circumstances, the starting age is not a determining factor for a mammogram, but must be the health professionals to guide women in either direction. Health professionals have to be our best allies against the possibility of a breast cancer screening.

the campaigns for early detection of breast cancer should be promoted by public health system, with free access, continued over time, equipped with the necessary resources for quality control, developed by trained and evaluated performance, including participation rates, which should be above 80% of the persons summoned. Read the rest of this entry »

Detecting a tumor early in its development, in addition to regular medical examinations and a healthy lifestyle are the keys to various oncology specialists explained to lanacion.com, following the death of the driver model and Patrick Miccio, one of the major aspects of the fight against breast cancer in the country.

Oncologists consulted agreed that the smaller the tumor, the more likely healing. And put the figure of 90 to 95 percent, provided a diagnosis very early, making it possible to detect the tumor when it has grown over two inches in the breast and presents no nodal involvement.

“When it comes to prevention against breast cancer should speak of two types: primary prevention, which includes the care that should lead a person through the adoption of healthy eating and healthy weight, physical activity as well as least 30 minutes per day, and campaigns and measures by the State to have a healthy society. On the other hand, attention should be secondary prevention, covering preventive medical examinations to detect possible tumor when it is too small ” , told lanacion.com Dr. Antonio Lorusso, an oncologist and medical director of Lalcec, Argentina’s League Against Cancer.

The expert stressed the importance of women to have annual or biennial mammography from age 40 (at 30 those who have had a family history), since it is the most effective instrument to detect a possible tumor in its early stages and is curable. “Finding cancer in situ in time, means that cancer is curable, which can be removed through a small surgery, which involves no mastectomy (breast removal) and that this woman may in the future to nurse a baby without any problem, “said Lorusso-Gynecology professor at UBA, which is not ruled out other methods of diagnosis, including physical examination by touch or a breast ultrasound. Read the rest of this entry »