Difference between revisions of "Breast cancer"
(→Ways of reducing the risk: Editing for accuracy of expression.) |
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* diet <ref> http://unisci.com/stories/20021/0104023.htm </ref> | * diet <ref> http://unisci.com/stories/20021/0104023.htm </ref> | ||
| − | * racial grouping | + | * racial grouping <ref> http://www.womenshealthnetwork.org/advocacy/wocbreastca/natam.htm </ref> |
* obesity <ref> http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,,686105,00.html </ref> | * obesity <ref> http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,,686105,00.html </ref> | ||
| + | * [[abortion]] | ||
* family history if such a history involves having several generations affected by breast cancer or having many relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at less than 50 years old <ref> http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html </ref> | * family history if such a history involves having several generations affected by breast cancer or having many relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at less than 50 years old <ref> http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html </ref> | ||
* prolonged uninterrupted exposure to estrogen (e.g. by having an early [[menarche]] and late [[menopause]] or by having no full-term pregnancies).<ref> http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html </ref> | * prolonged uninterrupted exposure to estrogen (e.g. by having an early [[menarche]] and late [[menopause]] or by having no full-term pregnancies).<ref> http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html </ref> | ||
* age: increasing age increases the risk that at some point in her life a woman will contract breast cancer, rising from 1 in 231 (0.5% risk) aged under 40 to 1 in 7 at age 90. <ref> http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html </ref> | * age: increasing age increases the risk that at some point in her life a woman will contract breast cancer, rising from 1 in 231 (0.5% risk) aged under 40 to 1 in 7 at age 90. <ref> http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html </ref> | ||
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==Ways of reducing the risk== | ==Ways of reducing the risk== | ||
Revision as of 21:18, April 15, 2007
Original text of article without medical contributor....leave my edits out please.PalMDtalk 12:38, 11 April 2007 (EDT)
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, and the most fatal after lung cancer. The number of cases has significantly increased since the 1970s. Although it is far less common in men, breast cancer can also affect them.[1]
Risk factors
Many factors affect the incidence of breast cancer in any given population of women including:
- diet [2]
- racial grouping [3]
- obesity [4]
- abortion
- family history if such a history involves having several generations affected by breast cancer or having many relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at less than 50 years old [5]
- prolonged uninterrupted exposure to estrogen (e.g. by having an early menarche and late menopause or by having no full-term pregnancies).[6]
- age: increasing age increases the risk that at some point in her life a woman will contract breast cancer, rising from 1 in 231 (0.5% risk) aged under 40 to 1 in 7 at age 90. [7]
Ways of reducing the risk
Having children reduces the risk of breast cancer. If a woman breastfeeds her babies she greatly reduces her risk of breast cancer. [8] [9]
Maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy diet reduces the risk.[10] [11]
Breast self-examination carried out every month, ideally one week after beginning a menstrual period, is a common-sense measure to aid early detection of suspicious changes. [12] For women over the age of 40, mammogram screenings are another measure that can detect cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat. However, not all medical authorities agree on whether there is any benefit from having annual mammograms below the age of 50. [13]
References
- ↑ http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malebreast/healthprofessional
- ↑ http://unisci.com/stories/20021/0104023.htm
- ↑ http://www.womenshealthnetwork.org/advocacy/wocbreastca/natam.htm
- ↑ http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,,686105,00.html
- ↑ http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html
- ↑ http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html
- ↑ http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html
- ↑ http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2570
- ↑ http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,8150,757869,00.html
- ↑ http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,,686105,00.html
- ↑ http://unisci.com/stories/20021/0104023.htm
- ↑ http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/bse.html
- ↑ http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/women/9909/27/bcam.mammography/