Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease for women. Second only to skin cancer, the disease is diagnosed in 240,000 women in the United States every year.
As the name suggests, breast cancer originates in the breast tissue. This disease occurs when breast cells grow out of control, creating tumors. It can travel to other parts of the body, like other cancers, and, also like other forms of the disease, it is most common in older women.
However, with how much is known about breast cancer, there are still some facts that may come as a surprise.
1. Breast awareness is just as important as a breast exam
Breast exams are important. Young women can get breast cancer. All women, starting between the ages of 20 to 25, are recommended to perform a breast self-exam (BSE) once a month to three days after your period or on the same day every month. This is to feel for any abnormalities in the breasts.
However, while this is good, routine practice, general breast awareness is just as important. You see your breasts every day and know how they look and feel. Simply staying aware of any changes related to your breasts can just as effective as a monthly BSE. Breast cancer can show many different symptoms.
2. A lump is not the only sign of breast cancer
Speaking of symptoms, it's important to understand the different signs of breast cancer. While a lump in or near your breast or under the arm is the classic symptom, there are many others that you should be on the lookout for. These can include:
- Swelling around the breast, armpit or collarbone
- Redness around your breast
- Breast warmth and itching
- Changes to your nipples, including discharge
- Breast pain that lasts more than a month
This is where the aforementioned breast awareness is crucial. By having general awareness of your breasts on a daily basis, you can catch these symptoms and report them to your doctor right away.
3. More births can mean a higher risk of aggressive breast cancer
There are many different types of breast cancer. One such subtype is triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive form of the disease that accounts for roughly 10 to 15% of all cases.
The name comes from the fact that the cancer cells don't have estrogen or progesterone receptors nor do they make much of a protein called HER2.
One risk factor for this particular form of breast cancer is the number of times a woman has given birth; the more children a woman has had, the higher her chances of TNBC. One study analyzed the reproductive history of 150,000 postmenopausal women. The researchers found a correlation between
number of births and the development of TNBC.
Does this mean that pregnancy is a risk factor for breast cancer?
No, not necessarily. Full-term pregnancies have long been associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. And these researchers also found that women who remain childless have a 40% higher risk of the most common form of breast cancer.
4. A male relative with breast cancer can increase your risk
Can men get breast cancer? Yes. However, the chance is small – only 1% of cases are diagnosed in men, about 2800 cases – but it does happen. And a family history of male relatives with breast cancer can increase your own risk.
In general, a family history of cancer is a risk factor for many forms of the disease; that goes for breast cancer too. A woman's risk for breast cancer is higher if she has a first-degree relative or multiple family members from both sides who have had breast cancer.
This goes for male relatives as well. However, family history is still a relatively small risk factor.