Dear Anon, I concur with Tina, this is a great question and one that continous to puzzle the medical community and researchers. The precise cause of breast cancer is unknown and most cases of breast cancer occur in women who are NOT classified as high risk.
Genetic-triggered breast cancer only accounts for 5 to 10% of the cases. These are considered cases where defects in one of several genes, especially BRCA1 or BRCA2 increase the chances of developing breast, ovarian and colon cancers. Some genetic mutations may be due to radiation exposure, for example, women treated with chest radiation therapy during childhood are known to have a significantly higher incidence of breast cancer than women not exposed to radiation. Some mutations have also been linked to exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, such as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in tobacco and charred red meats. Estrogen and poor diet are also suspects to cause breast cancer.
Breast cancer may develop undetected first but eventually there will be some common signs and symptoms like a lump in the breast that feels distinctly different from other breast tissue or that does not go away, swelling of the breast that does not go away, thickening of breast tissue, dimpling or pulling of the skin on the breast which may then resemble the skin of an orange, any change in the breast shape or contour, nipple discharge, retraction of the nipple, scaliness of the nipple, pain or tenderness of the breast, and swollen bumps or puss-filled sores.
Prevention, routine breast exams and mammograms should be considered as part of any wellness plan regarless of breast cancer family history!
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Dear Anon, I concur with Tina, this is a great question and one that continous to puzzle the medical community and researchers. The precise cause of breast cancer is unknown and most cases of breast cancer occur in women who are NOT classified as high risk.
Genetic-triggered breast cancer only accounts for 5 to 10% of the cases. These are considered cases where defects in one of several genes, especially BRCA1 or BRCA2 increase the chances of developing breast, ovarian and colon cancers. Some genetic mutations may be due to radiation exposure, for example, women treated with chest radiation therapy during childhood are known to have a significantly higher incidence of breast cancer than women not exposed to radiation. Some mutations have also been linked to exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, such as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in tobacco and charred red meats. Estrogen and poor diet are also suspects to cause breast cancer.
Breast cancer may develop undetected first but eventually there will be some common signs and symptoms like a lump in the breast that feels distinctly different from other breast tissue or that does not go away, swelling of the breast that does not go away, thickening of breast tissue, dimpling or pulling of the skin on the breast which may then resemble the skin of an orange, any change in the breast shape or contour, nipple discharge, retraction of the nipple, scaliness of the nipple, pain or tenderness of the breast, and swollen bumps or puss-filled sores.
Prevention, routine breast exams and mammograms should be considered as part of any wellness plan regarless of breast cancer family history!
May 16, 2009 - 12:16amThis Comment
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