Malignant
breast tumors start in the breast glands. Breast cancer in Germany as well as
in many other industrial countries is the most frequent form of
cancer among women. Every fourth case of cancer among woman involves the breast.
- The risk of contracting breast cancer ascends gradually
with increasing age starting at the age of 40.
Causes and Risk Factors
The majority
of all patients with breast cancer (about 90% to 95%) fall ill "spontaneously".
But risk factors
have been determined:
- Women:
with early periods, with late menopause or
woman without children or who bear children late in life
- Age:
from the age of 30 up to
75 the risk of cancer increases constantly
- Nutrition:
Overweight and
alcohol abuse
- Hereditary Factors:
cases of breast cancer among first-degree
family members
- Estrogen:
hormone replacement therapy
for more
than 5 years (e.g. as treatment during menopause) may increase the risk of
breast cancer.
"Risk"
does not mean that one gets sick inevitably. Belonging to one of the
groups mentioned
above however should result in extra care and precaution.
Useful Links:
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/index.htm
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast
http://www.nbcc.org.au/
http://uuhsc.utah.edu/healthinfo/adult/breast/
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