Screening For Breast Cancer May Not For All Women: Study

Most of the women generally urged to undergo breast cancer screening. But, recent study stated that undergoing frequent breast cancer screening is not appropriate for all women.

It is found that genetic mutations are responsible for a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer. But, study stated that about 2% of the population should undergo breast cancer screening which is due to genetic mutations such as BRCA1 or BRCA2. Women should undergo a simple blood test to check these genetic mutations, but the analysis of the results can be sometimes very much complicated.

Women with these genetic mutations are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer in their earlier ages only. Usually, general women are at 12.5 percent risk of developing breast cancer, but women with these BRCA mutations are at approximately 60 percent higher risk. Similarly lifetime risk for ovarian cancer rises from 1.4 percent to approximately 40 percent in women with BRCA mutations.

Less than 10 percent of the women with breast cancer have one of the BRCA mutations and more than 15 percent of the women with ovarian cancer carry one of the BRCA mutations. Usually, test for these genetic mutations is recommended for women whose family members undergo cancer diagnosis throughout several generations.

Pomegranates May Help Fight Against Breast Cancer!

New research conducted on breast cancer stated that, pomegranates contain naturally occurring chemical, known as a phytochemical, also called as Ellagic acid that prevents cancer cells from developing. Three-quarters of breast cancer are considered to be hormone reliant - fuelled by the hormone estrogen.

The new research said that pomegranates may reduce the probability of developing hormone-dependant breast cancer. Phytochemicals present in the fruit fight against estrogen production that prevents the production of breast cancer cells and the development of estrogen-responsive tumors.

So, it is helpful for people who consume pomegranates to protect against development of cancer in their breasts and also in other tissues and organs. Along with pomegranates, there are various other fruits like grapes help fight against breast cancer.

Link Between Infertility And Breast Cancer!

Recent studies stated that mutations in the BRCA1 gene that is gene linked to early beginning of breast cancer seem to be connected to a premature diminishment of egg reserve. This discover finally explain the relation between infertility and breast cancer or ovarian cancer risk.

Patients with BRCA mutation-positive, there was low ovarian response rate that is considerably more as thought to patients with BRCA mutation-negative and also with BRCA-untested women.

Each mutation-positive low patient seemed to have BRCA1 mutations, but low response could not be seen in women who were just BRCA2 mutation positive. As opposed to controls, BRCA1 mutation but not BRCA2 mutation-positive women is believed to have generated lesser amount of eggs.

It is established that, in the common inhabitants, around 1 in every 1,000 women is actually BRCA mutation positive and this rate could be as high as 2.5% in particular racial group.

Irrespective of major mechanisms of early diminishment of egg store in BRCA1 mutation-positive patients, the end result could have deep suggestions for the future fertility of a vast amount of women in the population.

Also, the study stated that there may be a new connection between low response to ovarian stimulation with fertility drugs and BRCA1 mutations. It could propose a possible connection between infertility, and breast cancer or ovarian threats.

The examination of the BRCA gene in the women with infertility and low response to ovarian stimulation could be valuable, particularly if there is a history of breast and/or ovarian cancer.



Osteoporosis Drugs Reduces Breast Cancer Risk!

A recent study conducted at New York stated that women who are taking common class of drugs such as bisphosphonates for osteoporosis are significantly at reduced risk of breast cancer than women who are not using the bone-strengthening pills.

Now you can find Fosamax in the form of alendronate. Some other most commonly used medicines from the same class include Actonel and Roche's Boniva. Women who were taking bisphosphonates are one-third less likely to develop breast cancer than women who do not take them.

Drugs, such as Fosamax and Boniva, are some of the most popular drugs for women to help prevent bone loss, but a government health study found those taking the drugs for osteoporosis were also 32 percent less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Researchers said that the medications used for osteoporosis may make it more difficult for
tumors to develop.

Loneliness May Raise Breast Cancer Risk!

New research found that stress of loneliness increases the hormone levels that trigger the tumor growth which finally lead to cancer. So, to reduce the breast cancer risk, it is essential to reduce the feelings of loneliness.

As your stress levels raise, the levels of stress hormone called as corticosterone may get raised and finally it affects the cell growth and thus leading to tumors.

Overall, research in humans does not indicate that there is a direct link between stress and breast cancer. But it's possible that stressful situations could indirectly affect the risk of cancer by making people more likely to take up unhealthy behaviours that increase their risk.

Finally the study suggested that stress that come from isolation may increase the number of breast cancer tumors. So, to reduce the risk of breast cancer, reduce your stress levels as much as you can.

Ultrasound Along With Annual Mammograms!

Recent study conducted by Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) stated that adding ultrasound to annual mammograms helps to detect early stage breast cancer in women who are at higher risk developing the disease.

Instead of using mammography alone, using mammography along with physician-performed ultrasound annually for three years can help to find 29% of more breast cancers and 34% of more invasive cancers.

Study showed that when you undergo mammography along with ultrasound for only one time can increase the detection rate of early breast cancer by 4.2 per 1,000.

Also, the study said that most of the cancers determined with ultrasound were the small invasive cancers that are likely to spread and could ultimately kill a person.

Also using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can even increase the chances of detecting breast cancer during the initial stages only. MRI is even more sensitive when compared to ultrasound and mammogram.

But, the major drawback of including MRI or ultrasound to annual mammography was an increase in number of false positive results.

Mammogram To Detect The Breast Changes!

Mammogram, an X-ray exam of the breast used to detect and evaluate the breast changes in women who suspect any abnormality of the breast.

Usually, mammogram is used to detect cancer in women who have no symptoms. It is called as screening mammogram.

There are two types of mammography exam. One is screening mammography and the other is diagnostic mammography.

Screening mammography: It is an X-ray examination of breasts in women who are asymptomatic. The main aim of screening mammography is detecting cancer when it is too small to be felt by you or the physician.

Detecting the breast cancer during its early stages can greatly improve the chance of successful treatment. Women above the age of 40 years should be recommended to consider screening mammography for every one to two years and women above the age of 50 years should consider it for every year.

Diagnostic mammography: It is an X-ray examination of breasts in women who either have breast complaints such as breast lump or nipple discharge, have had any abnormality found in screening mammography.

Diagnostic mammography takes more time when compared to screening mammography. The main aim of this mammography is to find out the exact size and location of breast abnormalities and to image the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.

During diagnostic mammography, several views of your breast are imaged and interpreted. So, this procedure is little bit expensive when compared to screening mammography. Women with history of breast cancer or with breast implants will need several views taken in diagnostic mammography.

How is a mammogram performed?

During the mammogram, your breast is compressed between an X-ray plate and a plastic plate. Breast compression is essential for spreading the tissue part. It ensures little movement so that the image is taken in precise shape and also your screening needs lower X-ray dose.

While compressing the breast, you may feel little discomfort and it is also painful. But this discomfort lasts only for few seconds and finally it produces a good mammogram image. The whole mammogram procedure takes about 20 minutes.

Mammogram produces black and white x-ray image of your breast tissue. Depending on the mammography device, you will get the image on a large sheet of X-ray film or an electronic image that can be looked on a computer screen.

Mammogram image reading is challenging for most of the radiologists. The way the breast appears on a mammogram varies greatly from one woman to another. Certain breast cancers produce changes in the mammogram, which can be difficult to examine.

More On Breast Cancer Causes!

The precise causes of breast cancer are still unclear, but there are certain risk factors that you should know about.

Among those, the most significant causes are family history and advancing age.

Risk increases for women who have had benign breast lumps and increases for women who have previously had cancer of breast or ovaries.

Hormones play a great role in breast cancer development. There are risk factors that you can not change along with some health issues and also some lifestyle adjustments.

Lifestyle factors that cause breast cancer:

1. Usage of birth control pills: Usage of birth control pills increases the chance of getting breast cancer when compared to women who don’t use them. So, it is recommended to talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of birth control pills.

2. Not having children or having children much later in life: Not having the children or having the first baby after the age of 30 years puts you at high risk for breast cancer. Having more than one child and at an early age reduces the risk of breast cancer.

3. Not breastfeeding: Some studies showed that breastfeeding for 1 ½ to 2 yeas can lower breast cancer risk because breastfeeding decreases a woman’s total number of menstrual cycles.

4. Postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT): Also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), using this therapy for long-term to relieve menopause symptoms keeps you at greater risk of breast cancer. HRT is of two types, in which estrogen alone therapy increases breast cancer risk. To lessen this risk, your doctor prescribes progesterone also.

5. Obesity: It is linked with high risk of breast cancer. Risk is higher if fat storages are mainly in the waist area.

6. Alcohol: Consuming alcohol increases breast cancer risk. Having 2-5 drinks of alcohol a day keeps you at 1 ½ times higher risk when compared to women who don’t drink.

7. Lack of physical activity: Studies showed that exercise can greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer. Brisk walking for at least 2 ½ hours a week reduces your risk by 18%.

Risk factors that you can not change:

8. Gender: Being a woman is the main risk factor for breast cancer. Men can also have the chance to develop, but it is 100 times most common in women when compared to men.

9. Genetic factors: 5-10% of breast cancers are due to genetic changes in genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene changes are most commonly observed in breast cancer patients.

10. Age: As you age, the chance of getting breast cancer increases. About 2 out of 3 women with breast cancer are above 55 years of age.

11. Race: Women with white complexion are at higher risk of breast cancer when compared to African-American women. But, death rate from breast cancer is high in African-American women. In their bodies, tumor growth is faster when compared to other women.

12. Family history: Women with a family history of breast cancer are at higher risk.

13. Your own history of breast cancer: Women who have cancer in one breast have greater chances of getting new cancer in another breast or in other tissues of same breast.

14 Thick breast tissues: Women with thick breast tissues i.e. more glandular tissues and less fatty tissues are at high risk of breast cancer. Also, doctors can not recognize the problem with mammograms in women with this kind of breast tissues.

15. Undergoing breast radiation previously: Women who have undergone radiation treatment to the chest region are at greater risk of breast cancer.

16. Menstrual problems: Having first menstrual periods early before the age of 12 years or entering into the menopause stage late after the age of 55 years can keep you at high risk for breast cancer. Women with these conditions can have more menstrual periods thus resulting in high levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones.

17. Usage of DES drugs: Women during their pregnancy use DES drugs to lower the chances of miscarriage. Studies showed that these women are at high risk for breast cancer than normal women.