Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. What happens is that a single individual cell acquires ability to divide itself without control or order, producing more cells just like it and forming a tumor. The tumor can invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
Breast Cancer in Mexico
This disease is a serious health problem in Mexico, here below are some important facts:
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Mexican women.
- As of 2006, breast cancer has become the main cause of cancer related death in Mexico, higher than cervical cancer mortality.
- Likewise, it is the second death cause among women between 30 to 54 years. The first cause is diabetes.
- In Mexico, the average age of diagnosis is around 50 years, which is 10 years younger than in developed countries such as the United States and Canada and other European countries.
- From the total amount of patients diagnosed with breast cancer in Mexico, 11% of the cases are women under the age of 40. A high number compared to other developed countries where the rate is significantly lower, such as the United States where it is only 3%.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Breast cancer risk factors are divided into modifiable and non-modifiable. Unfortunately, most of the breast cancer related factors are non-modifiable, innate to gender, age, genetics and predetermined hormonal condition patterns.
Non-modifiable breast cancer risk factors
- Being a woman: Breast cancer occurs around 100 times more in women than in men.
- Age: Like in many other diseases, breast cancer risks increases, as people grow older. Two out of three invasive breast cancers are found in women age 55 or older.
- Genetic: The most important factor is genetics, since 5 to 10% of breast cancer cases are due to genes/hereditary mutations. Currently, Mexico lacks information about breast cancers due to heredofamilial syndrome, nonetheless recent studies indicate Mexico has a high rate.
- Mutation BRCA1 ex9-12del: This mutation has been recently described and accounts for the first Mexican founder mutation which explains some of the heredofamilial breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. In recent studies published in Mexico, this mutation accounts for 29% of all identified mutations.
- Family history of Cancer: A family history of cancer of a first-degree family member (mother, sister, daughter) increases risk of developing breast cancer.
- Personal History of Breast Cancer: A woman diagnosed with breast cancer has 3 to 4 times greater risk of developing a new cancer than a person who hasn’t been diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Dense breasts: This means having less fatty tissue and more non-fatty tissue in the breasts, making screening for breast abnormalities difficult.
- Length of Menstrual period throughout reproductive life: Women who got their period before the age of 12 years or menopause after the age of 55, have greater risks of developing breast cancer. Due to the fact that these women had more exposure to estrogens since they had a longer reproductive life.
- History of radiotherapy on breasts: Due to previous cancers such as lymphoma.
Modifiable breast cancer risks
- Age at time of first born: giving birth for the first time after the age of 30, is a risk factor for developing breast cancer.
- Chronic hormonal replacement therapy: The current or recent users of hormonal replacement therapy for more than 5 years have a higher risk of breast cancer. If this treatment is necessary, it is important that the patient keeps constant communication with her gynecologist and performs the corresponding screenings for prompt discovery.
- Chronic consumption of alcohol: Severe alcohol consumption can increase incidence of breast cancer. The greater the alcohol consumption, the greater the risk.
- Obesity: In addition to being the cause of other types of cancer and diseases, obesity is a risk factor for developing breast cancer.
- Use of Contraceptives: Oral contraceptives that contain estrogen and progesterone can literally increase breast cancer risk, particularly among women who have used oral contraceptives for more than 10 years. Risk disappears when the patient stops taking oral contraceptives.
Myths (Believed risk factors but are actually not)
- Using deodorant.
- Using a bra.
- Having breast implants.
- Having big breasts.
How can breast cancer be prevented?
Most of the breast cancer risk factors are non-modifiable, therefore making it impossible for women to change them. Nevertheless, here are some recommendations for those modifiable factors:
- Lead a healthy life (weight control, balanced diet and exercise).
- Avoid chronic consumption of alcohol.
- If possible, avoid hormonal replacement therapy for more than 5 years.
- Breastfeeding for more than 6 months is a protective factor against breast cancer.
Mexican women lack knowledge of the real breast cancer risk factors, therefore if well informed, they can take the necessary precautions in order to have proper health care and be able to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage. If found on time, breast cancer is not necessarily mortal and that depends on each woman.
If you wish to find out more about existing cancer detection and treatment options in Monterrey, please access our section on Cancer Treatment in Monterrey.
Author: Dr. Cynthia Villarreal
