Breast cancer risk factors

Human organism is quite a complex system where a trillion of different cells interact with one another, while dividing daily. Some cells, for instance, the cells of gastrointestinal tract, skin or white blood cells divide quicker. Others, like parts of the nervous system or special heart muscle tissues reproduce comparatively slowly. For the cell division process to be correct, our body designed a lot of protective mechanisms. In case a defective cell is formed the organism must identify and destroy it. However, the greater the number of defective cells that are formed because of external or internal factors, the greater the chance they are ‘missed’. They are the ones to turn into malignant tumors. 

The reasons behind the development of oncological diseases are very complex and multifactorial. There are a number of external and internal factors that can lead to the development of oncological illnesses.  

All risk factors can be divided into certain groups:

The risk factors that cannot be modified:

• Age. The older the woman is, the greater the probability of developing a disease. 
• Genetic predisposition. Failure of a special defense mechanism against the formation of cancer cells that is encoded by certain genes (the most important ones are BRCA 1, BRCA 2 and a few others), as a result of mutations in these genes. This condition is hereditary and can be identified with a laboratory test.
• Benign pre-malignant proliferative breast conditions.
• History of chest wall irradiation (mostly due to radiation therapy for lymphoma) 
• Menstruation history. Early menarche (beginning of the periods) and late menopause mean the level of estrogens in the body is increased which increases the risk of developing hormone-dependent cancer.

Reproductive risk factors:

• No history of pregnancies. Childbirth over the age of 30 years.

Risk factors that can be modified: 

• Increased body weight, which can lead to the development of hormone-dependent breast tumors. 
• Refusal to breastfeed.
• Diabetes mellitus type 2.
• Irrational diet and vitamin D deficiency. 
• Use of steroid hormones. Hormone-replacement therapy (often with contraceptive purpose) increases the risk of breast cancer development. 
• Alcohol abuse and smoking.
• Night work schedule.
• Low physical activity.