Women Cancer Health Treatment

Breast cancer is caused by a mixture of genetic factors, environmental influences and ageing, says the National Breast Cancer Centre. The risk of developing it can be further increased with these factors:

1. FAMILY HISTORY
Risk is higher for mothers, daughters and sisters of women who had it prior to menopause.

2. GENETIC DAMAGE
Mutations of the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes.

3. EARLY MENARCHE
Starting your periods before the age of 12.

4. EXPOSURE TO RADIATION
To breast tissue in particular, before age 20.

5. ONE CANCER
Having had cancer in one breast increases the risk in the other.

6. CHANGES IN CELLS
The NBCC says it starts with changes in some of the breast cells, which if detected early, and prevented from spreading, will more than likely not prove to be life-threatening.

7. DIET
It’s been suggested that diet and consumption of alcohol are other causes, and that some determinants of risk, such as diet, might act during childhood.

8.WEIGHT AND LIFESTYLE
Being overweight and sedentary.

Professor Judy Kirk from the Familial Cancer Service says that having a mastectomy when you don’t have breast cancer is not the right answer for every woman at high risk. “It’s uncommon for women to have a complete prophylactic mastectomy,” she explains.

According to a recent Australian study, only seven women from the 400 high-risk families involved had both healthy breasts removed. Professor Kirk says instead, many women prefer to have more intensive screening than usual. She adds that since genetic testing became available in Australia in the mid `90s, women are more likely to want to have the tests before they decide to go ahead with a preventative mastectomy.

Maybe the biggest risk factor, besides being female and getting older, is an unquestioning attitude. A woman’s instinct counts. Regular breast examinations by a doctor are advisable - and if your doctor won’t take the time to answer your questions, you should find one who will.