My family doesn't have a history of breast cancer (luckily) but it is surprising how many people that I started talking to who had relatives diagnosed with it. The stories, all different, yet with similar outcomes. Some endings were sad, but others were enlightening. What I took from all this?? My OB-GYN isn't as crazy as I thought.
After the walk, I decided to look at little more in depth about breast cancer and find out what I can do to get the word out that this is something that is curable, but it takes money, and a lot of people to support it. More women should be educated on the warning signs, symptoms, and what to do if they become a victim of breast cancer.
I was looking on the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation site, http://www.komen.org/, and found so many answers to my questions.
From the site I pulled together some information that I want to pass along:
-women are 100 times more likely to get breast cancer than men
-women have a 1 in 8 or 12 percent lifetime chance of breast cancer
-women who don't exercise are 25% more likely to get breast cancer
-some factors that increase risk include:
-family history of breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer
-poor diet/overweight
-environmental exposure, such as radiation, especially at a young age
-menopause at age 55 or older
-postmenopausal hormone use
-first period before age 12
-high bone density
-drinking alcohol
-not breastfeeding
-not exercising
-high breast density on a mammogram
-benign breast disease (hyperplasia)
-high levels of estrogen in the blood
-current or recent use of birth control pills
-not having children or having first child after age 30
-being tall
-personal history of breast cancer
Now, if you were like me, you fit into a few categories already. The more categories a women falls into, the higher a risk you have. Scary? yes.
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So, I felt that I should explain what some of these mean. Instead of rewording, I took these explanations from the site:
- menopause at age 55 or older
- first period before 12
Starting menstrual periods at a young age is linked to a small increase in breast cancer risk later in life. Studies have shown a 20 percent increase in risk among women who began their periods before age 12 compared to those who began their periods after age 14. This likely relates to the amount of estrogen a woman is exposed to throughout her life. A high lifetime exposure to estrogen is an important risk factor for breast cancer (for more information on estrogen and breast cancer risk, click here). The earlier a woman starts having periods, the longer her breast tissue is exposed to estrogens that are released during the menstrual cycle, and the greater her lifetime exposure to estrogen.
- high bone density
Studies show a link between high bone density and a higher risk of breast cancer. However, it’s not that strong bones themselves increase risk. It’s that high bone density is an indicator of elevated blood estrogen, which is an important breast cancer risk factor (for more information on estrogen and breast cancer risk, click here). The more estrogen a woman produces in her lifetime, the more bone mass she has. While higher bone density is associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis, it may also be a marker for a higher risk of breast cancer. Studies suggest that women with the highest bone density have about twice the breast cancer risk of those with the lowest bone density
- drinking alcohol
Many studies support a link between alcohol intake and an increased risk of breast cancer. One analysis pooling the data from 53 studies found that for every one alcoholic drink consumed per day, the relative risk of breast cancer increased by about seven percent . Overall, women who drink two to three alcoholic beverages per day have a 20 percent greater risk of breast cancer than non-drinkers.
Alcohol may increase the risk of breast cancer in a number of ways. It can alter the way a woman’s body metabolizes estrogen, causing blood estrogen levels to rise, which may in turn increase the risk of breast cancer (for more information on estrogen and breast cancer risk, click here). Drinking alcohol can also reduce blood levels of the vitamin folic acid. Folic acid plays a role in DNA synthesis and repair. Low levels of the vitamin may make it more likely that DNA is incorrectly copied when cells normally divide. Such errors can lead cells down a pathway to become cancerous.
- not having children or having children after 35
Women who have their first child at age 35 or younger tend to get an overall protective benefit from pregnancy. While the risk of breast cancer goes up for about 10 years following a first birth, after that it drops below that of women who don’t have children. The younger women are when they have their first child, the sooner the effect of pregnancy becomes protective. The older women are when they have their first child, the longer it takes to see the benefit of pregnancy on risk.
- being tall
Many studies have found that taller women have an increased risk of breast cancer. One pooled analysis of seven prospective studies found that women over 5’3” have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer than women under 5’3”. One reason for this may be the growth spurt that tall women can have in their youth. Such growth spurts can create a chance for damage to occur in breast cells that can lead to cancer later in life.
--------------------------------------------The best way to fight breast cancer is to first know what your personal risk is. Talking to your doctor will answer any questions you may have and might give you some information that you should know. The second way to fight breast cancer is to get tested regularly. Out of the five standard screening tests, MRI, mammogram, digital mammography, clinical exam, and self exam, they all are effective.
All women should get in the habit of doing are self exams. We should be comfortable enough with our bodies to do this, but I have found that some people don't feel as comfortable as they should be. Try taking the process in steps. Most women do this in the shower, others in front of a mirror. Once you get in the habit of what you are comfortable with, you will have it for life.
Since I have looked many upon many sites over, I feel much better about my worries. But, although it has subsided for now, it should never go away. It could happen to anyone, at anytime. So, never let a busy schedule get in the way of scheduling your breast cancer screening. A busy day is not worth a shorter life. Get involved, spread the word, save lives.
For more information check out http://www.komen.org/.
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