Breast Cancer and its Risks

Breast Cancer is one of the dreadful diseases. There are some risk factors associated with it. Identifying the risk factors will help in early detection of the disease. This will further reduce the mortality rates.Breast cancer is one of the common causes of cancer deaths in women. But, early diagnoses and intervention has greatly improved the survival rate to the greater extent. Therefore, it is important to spread awareness amongst women about its risk factors so that right prevention measures are taken. Awareness about the risk factors can also help in early diagnosis and treatment. Let us take a look at the risk factors associated with breast cancer. In this articleWhat are the risk factors associated with breast cancer?Should I be worried about breast cancer?Can birth control pills cause breast cancer?How can I prevent breast cancer?What are the risk factors associated with breast cancer?Here are some of the risk factors associated with breast cancer.Highest Risk FactorsHistory of breast cancer in a close relative (mother or sister)History of breast biopsy showing atypical cell growthOther Risk FactorsFirst pregnancy after age 30 (late pregnancies), or no childrenHistory of breast cancer in a distant relative (maternal aunt or grandmother)Menstrual periods before age 12History of fibrocystic breast diseaseObesity or a high-fat dietMenopause after age 50Should I be worried about breast cancer?Breast cancer has accounted for over 17% of deaths in women. Depending on its severity, there are five stages of breast cancer.In stage I, where the lump cannot be felt but can be diagnosed by a mammogram, the 5-year survival rate is 95%.In stage II, where the malignant lump has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm but has remained localized to one breast and is smaller than 2 cm, the 5-year survival rate is 85%.In stage III, where the growth of the lumps is 2-5 cm and the lumps have not spread to the lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 66%.In stage IV, where the growth of the lumps is over 5 cm or the lumps have grown into the skin, the distant lymph nodes or into the chest wall, the 5-year survival rate is 41%.In stage V, where the malignancy has spread to other parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 10%.Can birth control pills cause breast cancer?Birth control pills are widely used by women to prevent unwanted pregnancy and carry out family planning effectively. Such pills are also known to reduce to ovarian and uterine cancer. However, as per some research, birth control pills release certain hormones for preventing pregnancy due to which breast cells can be overstimulation which can increase the risk of breast cancer in women. Therefore, women who are high-risk candidates for developing breast cancer or women who have been already diagnosed with breast cancer should preferably stop using birth control pills after consulting their doctor.How can I prevent breast cancer?Here are some preventive steps that can be taken to avoid breast cancer.Avoid smokingAvoid taking alcoholic drinksExercise on daily basisEat healthy foodMake sure that you maintain healthy weightConsider long-term breastfeedingPlan pregnancy before you reach the age of 30Do not undergo treatments that involve exposure to radiations unless necessaryAvoid undergoing hormone therapy and try natural ways to deal with the menopausal symptomsAvoid going in extremely polluted areas as much as you canFollowing a healthy lifestyle can not only help to prevent breast cancer but also other types of cancers and diseases. Therefore, aim at staying healthy and fit to prevent maximum amount of health disorders including breast cancer.