Breast cancer and Risk factors!

Mother’s Breast is cradle of life for humans, but it is cursed with the breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers in women. Breast cancer occurrence in India is around 14-26 per every 1 lakh women above the age of 18.

The breast is a modified sweat gland to produce milk for young ones. The reasons for breast cancer can be multitude from genetic causes to environmental causes to personal lifestyle. Common genetic causes are BRCA 1, BRCA2, TP53, PTEN, ATM genetic mutations.

Patients with TP53 gene defect radiotherapy should be avoided and total mastectomy should be done. Still, they account only for 5-10% of total breast cancer incidence. That makes still 90% of breast cancers preventable.  

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), several risk factors have been identified that can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer. These include:

1. **Gender**: Being female is the primary risk factor for breast cancer, although men can also develop the disease.

2. **Age**: The risk increases as a person ages; most breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women over 50.  

3. **Family History**: A family history of breast cancer, especially in first-degree relatives (mother, sister), can increase risk.

4. **Reproductive Factors**:   

- Early menstruation (before age 12)   

- Late menopause (after age 55)   

- Having no children or having the first child after the age of 30   

- Not breastfeeding  

5. **Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)**: Long-term use of combined hormone therapy for menopause can increase risk.  

6. **Obesity and Overweight**: Especially after menopause, being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer.  

7. **Alcohol Consumption**: Regular consumption of alcohol is associated with an increased risk.  

8. **Radiation Exposure**: Previous chest radiation for another condition, especially during youth, increases breast cancer risk.  

9. **Physical Inactivity**: A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to obesity and increased risk.

  10. **Diet**: A poor diet low in fruits and vegetables and high in saturated fats may contribute to overall cancer risk.  

It's essential for individuals to discuss their personal risk factors with healthcare professionals, who can provide tailored advice and screening options.  

Once the patient is diagnosed with breast, it is important to stage the patient as per conventional staging  Stage I-IV, and also understand the biology of the tumor and treatment to be tailored, Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Immunotherapy, Endocrine and targeted therapy with the discussion with cancer physicians.