The Big Three: Breast Cancer

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is defined as abnormal growth of cells in breast tissue. Both males and females are born with some breast tissue therefore both can be affected.

The exact causes of breast cancer is unknown but it has been linked to gene mutations, hormones and a person’s lifestyle. Normal breast cells can become cancerous due to changes within them or gene mutations, but the process is not fully understood. Therefore, risk factors are often examined and used to determines a person’s risk of developing breast cancer.

Risk factors:

·  Family history of breast cancer

·  Have a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation

·  Personal history of breast cancer or breast conditions

·  Early menarche (before the age of 12)

·  Late menopause (after the age of 55)

·  Dense breast tissue

·  Never been pregnant

·  Increasing age

·  Hormone therapy

·  Obesity

·  Radiation exposure

Symptoms:

·  A lump in the breast that feels different from its surrounding tissue

·  A flatten or inward nipple

·  Change in color of skin around the breast, or texture such as dimpling, peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking

·  Change in the shape, size or appearance of a breast

·  Abnormal discharge from the nipple such as blood tinged

Screening:

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women who are ages 40-74 and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every 2 years.

Screening tests:

·  Clinical breast exams –often done at yearly physicals

·  Mammogram –x-ray of the breast

·  Breast MRI –uses magnets and radio waves to take pictures of the breast

o   Often used in women who are high risk

·  Genetic testing to identify mutations that cause breast cancer

It is also advised that you conduct frequent breast self-exams. Being familiar with your breasts and how they look and feel can help you notice symptoms that are out of the norm such as lumps, pain or changes in size.