PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER

 


BREAST CANCER is a malignant tumour with potential to invade other tissues and spread to other parts of the body. It occurs in males and females but mor common in females


RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER:

1)  HORMONAL AND REPRODUCTIVE FACTORS:

a) Age at menarche: early menarche is a risk factor for breast cancer.

Ob) Parity :  nulliparous women have higher risk of breast cancer up to 2fold compared to Paros women.

c) age at full term pregnancy: women aged 30years or more at their full term pregnancy have short termed increased risk of breast cancer.

d)breast feeding:women who have not breast fed their child are at higher risk of breast cancer.

e)age at menopause: later age at menopause (more than 55years of age poses higher risk of breast cancers.

d)   Endogenous  hormones: in post menopausal women,who have high levels of both progesterone and oestrogen have double the risk of breast cancer as compared to those with lower levels.

e)  Use of oral contraceptives:   Combined use of oestrogen progesterone  pills increases risk of breast cancer, but will decrease when stopped.

f) use of hormonal menopausal therapy:  use of oestrogen progesterone therapy increases risk of breast cancer.

2)  life style factors and environmental factors:

A)   ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION:increases the risk manifold high .

B)    OVER WEIGHT,OBESITY ,CHANGE  IN BODY WEIGHT 

C)    PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:    Increased physical activity has a protective effect over pre and post menopausal breast cancer.

  

3) Non modifiable Risk factor

a)Height: A greater attained adult height increases risk of breast cancer.

B) Age: Breast cancer incidence increases after menopause  but aggressive breast cancer decreases post menopause.

C) Benign breast disease:all benign breast diseases are not associated with breast cancer however’ epithelial hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia are associated with breast cancer.

4)Ionising radiation: Exposure to ionising radiation increases risk of breast cancer. Like

Atomic bomb survivors 

Women exposed to medical monitoring.

Women irradiated for benign diseases.

Survivors of childhood cancer.

Women undergoing frequent mammograms.

Early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer 

1)Self breast examination:should be done every month

Premenopausal women: 5th to 10th day of her menstrual cycle.

Post menopausal  women: one fixed day every month.


Prerequisite for self examination:

‘Good source of light,’  good mirror,’  














          


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