Understanding the Reasons Of Breast Cancer In India
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among Indian women. Cases of breast cancer are steadily rising worldwide. India is becoming a hotspot for breast cancer cases, with the number growing each year.
Reasons for breast cancer are varied and essential to understand to ensure prevention. Keep reading further to find out the reasons for breast cancer in India in detail!
What Is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer originates in the breast cells. These breast cells can mutate(spontaneous or induced changes in the DNA) and grow abnormally for various reasons, leading to tumour formation. Breast cancer primarily affects women as the specific cells involved are those of milk ducts or milk-producing lobules.
The tumour remains localised in the early stage and hasn’t yet spread to other organs. However, if not diagnosed and treated appropriately, the tumour can spread to various other organs and may be fatal.
What Are The Reasons And Causes Of Breast Cancer In India?
Various reasons cause breast cancer. These reasons and causes work to a different extent in every patient. However, several studies have found that each of these reasons has a role in breast cancer:
Lifestyle
Doctors often say that cancer is a lifestyle disease. Breast cancer is no exception to this statement. A poor lifestyle can be a catalyst for breast cancer. Rapid urbanisation in India has caused the following lifestyle factors which may contribute to breast cancer cases:
- Lack of exercise: Many studies have shed light on the importance of exercise for a healthy lifestyle. For women, living a lazy life with minimal physical activity can be a cause of breast cancer.
- Imbalanced diet: Another significant risk factor which is contributing to various types of cancer is an imbalanced diet. Consuming highly processed, low-fibre and high-calorie food items can lead to obesity, which is itself a massive risk for breast cancer.
- Alcohol & Smoking: Two major culprits of the growing India are alcohol and smoking. In the past few decades, alcohol and tobacco consumption among Indian women has increased, which has a direct correlation to breast cancer.
Hormonal And Reproductive Factors
Hormonal imbalance is a significant risk factor for breast cancer. Changes in hormonal patterns with age can have a substantial impact on breast cancer development:
- Later pregnancies: Women who do not get pregnant or have a pregnancy later are more prone to breast cancer. Pregnancy is a critical stage in a woman’s life for hormonal changes. These hormone changes are essential for maintaining health; if these cycles are disturbed, they might have consequences.
- Hormone replacement therapy(HRT): During menopause, many women experience a range of symptoms due to hormonal changes. Taking hormone replacement therapies to ease symptoms can increase breast cancer risk.
Genetic Risk Factors
Breast cancer often runs in families in India. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can increase breast and ovarian cancer risk. Since these mutations are heritable, you may stand a higher risk of breast cancer if your first-degree relative (parent, child, sibling) has been affected by breast cancer.
Even if you have a history of noncancerous breast disease or ovarian cancer, it increases your risk of getting breast cancer.
Lack Of Awareness
Breast cancer signs are usually visible as mole, lump, swelling or unusual pain in the breast. Women in India often ignore these signs due to a lack of awareness, leading to later diagnosis and, hence, a lesser chance of recovery.
A majority part of rural India lacks medical expertise for breast exams and mammograms. Most of it is due to a lack of awareness or social stigma.
Obesity & Overweight
- Obese women have more than the nousualmount of fat tissue, which produces increased estrogen. This increased level of estrogen has been linked to breast cancer. The link between obesity and breast cancer is even higher among postmenopausal women.
- Obese individuals often have high blood sugar levels, which leads to high insulin growth factor-1(IGF-1) levels. This is also linked to breast cancer.
Early menarche and late menopause
Women who had their first period before 12 years of age are at a higher risk of breast cancer as their bodies have been under the influence of hormones for a more extended period. For the same reason, women who have menopause later than 55-60 years are also at a higher risk.
Preventative measures
Some risk factors for breast cancer can be avoided by changing your habits. However, others, like genetic mutations, cannot be changed. Here are some preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of breast cancer:
- Healthy lifestyle: Changing your lifestyle for good is never too late. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol immediately. Take counselling if required. Start a daily exercise schedule and eat a balanced diet.
- Regular screening: If you are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer due to any reason, then the most important thing to do is regular screening. You need to get yourself examined for breast cancer each year. Early-stage breast cancer is often easy to deal with.
- Genetic counselling: Genetic counselling can help you manage the risk of breast cancer if breast cancer runs in your family. Many women have diagnosed their cancer very early by taking genetic counselling.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to detect breast cancer is a mammogram. If you find any signs or symptoms of breast cancer, consult a doctor immediately for a breast exam.
There isn’t significant evidence from research that supports a link between contraceptive pills and breast cancer.
No. Some breast cancer vaccines are in the research pipeline, but as of now, there is no breast cancer vaccine on the market.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/risk-factors/index.html
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/risks-causes/risk-factors
https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-risk-factors/
