The people most at risk of having breast cancer are women, especially when they are over 60, have had breast cancer or have family cases and also those who have had hormone replacement therapy at some point in life.
However, breast cancer can appear in any person, the most important of which is to do the breast self-examination once a month, since, in the initial phase, this type of cancer does not cause specific symptoms, and may delay the diagnosis and the treatment.
Main risk factors
Thus, the main factors that increase the risk of breast cancer are:
1. History of breast changes
The women who are most likely to develop this type of cancer are those who have had breast problems or had radiation therapy in the region, as in other types of cancer in that region or in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma, for example.
The risk is also greater in women who have benign changes in the breast, such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in-situ and high breast density assessed on a mammogram.
2. Family history of cancer
People with family members who have had breast or ovarian cancer, especially when a relative is a first-degree parent, such as a father, mother, sister or daughter, are also at risk 2 to 3 times higher. In these cases, there is a genetic test that helps to confirm whether there is really a risk of developing the disease.
3. Menopausal women
In most cases, women in menopause undergo hormone replacement therapy with drugs composed of estrogen or progesterone, which can increase the risk of developing cancer, especially when its use is for more than 5 years.
In addition, when menopause occurs after age 55, the chances are also greater.
4. Unhealthy lifestyle
As in almost all types of cancer, the lack of regular physical activity increases the chances of having breast cancer, especially due to the increase in body weight, which favors the development of mutations in cells. In addition, the consumption of alcoholic beverages throughout life also increases the risk of having cancer.
5. Late pregnancy or no pregnancy
When the first pregnancy occurs after the age of 30 or in the absence of pregnancy, the risk of developing breast cancer is also greater.
How to decrease your risk of cancer
To reduce the chances of developing cancer it is important to avoid unhealthy foods such as canned and ready-to-eat foods, as well as avoiding other factors such as being exposed to smoke or having a BMI greater than 25.
In addition, one should consume about 4 to 5 mg per day of vitamin D, such as egg or liver and opt for foods rich in phytochemicals such as carotenoids, antioxidant vitamins, phenolic compounds or fibers, for example.
If you think you have a high risk of developing breast cancer, see what tests you can do at: Tests that confirm breast cancer.
Watch the following video and see how to do the breast self-examination:
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