Simple Health Cures

   Breast cancer is a largely unknown disease until today, despite the fact that it affects almost ten percent of the women above the age of forty years all over the world. The causes of this killer cancer are not known even after decades of research into it. Similarly it is unknown why some women ave higher chances of getting breast cancers than others.

   Thought the caussative factors are not known, some risk factors have been identified. There is no medical proof why these factors make the disease more probable, but this is a study of observation. In a vast cross-section of women with the observed risk factors, it been found that the chances of getting breast cancers are very high.

   The various risk factors for breast cancer are-

   1. Family History of Breast Cancer- If a near relative like mother or a sister has had breast cancer, then there is a very high chance that the cancer will occur sometime in life. This propensity is observed ev en if far relatives such as cousins and aunts have had beast cancer, though the chances are lesser as the relatives are more removed. Even if a male relative has had breast cancer or prostate cancer, then there is a chance of getting breast cancer. This clearly indicates that breast cancer runs through family lines through inheritance. Certainly the chances are very high if more than one family member has had breast cancer.

   2. Personnal History of Breast Cancer- If a woman has had breast cancer in the past, then there is a great chance that the breast cancer may recur. This is true even if the cancer had been removed in it’s benign stage itself. Sometimes the cancer cells spread into the nearby lymph. This makes a possibility that the cancer will occur in the opposite breast. In fact, women who have had cancer in one breast have 50 to 75% more chances of developing the cancer in the other breast.

   3. Disease of the Breast- Several breast diseases can increase the chances of having breast cancer. Changes in the cells of the breast can lead to atypical hyperplasia. This condition can cause a three to fourfold increase in the possibility of getting breast cancer in the later years. This risk also exists if the atypical hyperplasia has occurred in other women of the family. Another such condition is the benign breast tumor condition known as fibro adenoma. However, women with fibrocystic breast generally do not have any added vulnerability to breast cancer.  Yet such conditions could make the breasts lumpy and hide the real tumors during mammography.

   4. Lifestyle- In today’s world, lifestyle is the single largest contributing factor for the proliferation of breast cancer among women. Several elements of the lifestyle have been found to be directly accordant with the prevalence of breast cancer. Smoking and alcoholism in women are among the chief factors. Even diet has been pointed out as an important risk factor. Women who consume a diet with more high-cholesterol fats in them have higher chances of breast cancer. At the same time leading a sedentary lifestyle without induling much in physical activity are also potentially dangerous.

  5. Radiation- It has been found that women who undergo radiation therapies in their chest region at a young age have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in their later lives. Radiation therapy is generally prescribed for women with conditions like Hodgkin’s disease or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. so women who have undergone such treatments may get breat cancer in their later years.

   6. Hormonal Imbalances- There are several factors that can change the hormone balance of the body. some of them are,

   a) Beginning the menstrual cycle early, before the age of twelve years,

   b) Having the first pregnancy after the age of thirty years

   c) Having no pregnancy at all,

   d) Having a late menopause,

   All these conditions can increase the level of estrogen in the body. This increase the risk of getting breat cancer to a mild extent. Apart from that women who take regular birth control pills, breast enhancement supplements, antidepressants and antihistamines and hormone modifying supplements stand at a higher risk to get breast cancers.

    It must be also noted that women have much higher vhances of getting breast cancer than men. In fact, most people think that breast cancer is a disease that affect only women. This is not true. Men also get breast cancers, but to a much lessor degree than women. Also, age is a very important factor. The chances of getting breast cancer are much higher when the women has crossed the age of 50 years.