Breast cancer factors and treatments

The breast represents for every woman the symbol of femininity, motherhood, fertility, and has great emotional and psychological meanings for each of us. With the passing of the years, however, it is necessary to pay attention to avoid the onset of some important problems, such as tumors.

Breast cancer, or mammary carcinoma is a disease due to the uncontrolled multiplication of some cells of the mammary gland, which become malignant. The breast is located between the skin and the wall of the chest and is made up of a collection of glands and fatty tissue. The glandular structures, called lobules, are joined together to form a lobe; there are 15 to 20 lobes in a breast. The risk of getting breast cancer increases with increasing age, with a 2.3% chance of developing breast cancer up to age 49 (1 in 43 women), 5.4% in the 50-69 age group (1 in 18 women) and 4.5% in the 70-84 age group (1 in 22 women)

Breast cancer is a potentially serious disease if it is not detected and treated in time. It is due to the uncontrolled multiplication of some cells of the mammary gland that turn into malignant cells and acquire the ability to detach themselves from the tissue that generated them to invade the surrounding ones and, over time, even more distant organs.

Let's see now what are the possible modifiable risk factors:

Reproductive factors 

A long duration of the fertile period, with an early menarche and a late menopause and therefore with a longer exposure of the glandular epithelium to the proliferative stimuli of ovarian estrogens; nulliparity, a first full-term pregnancy after the age of 30 years, failure to breastfeed.

 Hormonal factors 

Increased risk in women taking hormone replacement therapy during menopause, especially if based on synthetic estroprogestins with androgenic activity; increased risk in women taking oral contraceptives.

 Dietary and metabolic factors 

The high consumption of alcohol and animal fats and the low consumption of vegetable fibers seem to be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Moreover, diet and behaviors leading to obesity and metabolic syndrome are gaining importance. It is therefore necessary to maintain a normal weight, exercise, avoid alcohol consumption and eat low fat and many vegetables (fruits and vegetables, especially broccoli and cabbage, onions, green tea and tomatoes).

Non-modifiable risk factors include:

Previous radiation therapy 

especially if before 30 years of age and previous breast dysplasia or neoplasia.

 Familiarity and heredity 

5%-7% of breast cancers are linked to hereditary factors, 1/4 of which determined by the mutation of two genes: BRCA-1 and BRCA-2: in women carrying mutations of the BRCA-1 gene the risk of developing breast cancer in the course of life is 65%, in women with mutations of the BRCA-2 gene 40%.

Other hereditary factors are represented by:

 ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated ) or CHEK gene mutations28,9 PALB210- Li-Fraumeni syndrome (p53 mutation) Cowden syndrome (PTEN gene mutation) Ataxia-teleangiectasia, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Very important is the early diagnosis of breast cancer, so let's see together how to recognize some signs and symptoms that should create suspicion.

-Breast swelling

-Cutaneous inflammation 

-Nipple shrinkage 

-Abnormal secretion from the nipple 

-Nipple erosion

-Axillary swelling ulceration and pain

-Asymmetry between breasts 

-Palpable nodule, especially if it is hard-soft and irregular in shape.

Only one of these signs should lead us to perform a more thorough investigation.

Early diagnosis is then very important to reduce mortality from breast cancer and to increase therapeutic options:

A simple mammogram can diagnose breast cancer at an early stage of disease, when treatment may be more effective and the chance of cure very high.

-Echography is a very useful examination, particularly for examining young breasts. It is advisable to use it, on doctor's advice, in case of appearance of symptoms or nodules.

-It is also a good habit to have a breast examination by a gynecologist or an experienced doctor at least once a year, regardless of age.

Finally, self-palpation: it is a technique that allows women to detect any changes in their breasts at an early stage. However, its effectiveness in terms of screening is very low: this means that it is more than just a visit and mammography from the recommended age, but it cannot replace them.

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