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Worried About Breast Cancer

Are you worried about breast cancer …?

Many women worry about the breast | cancer, sometimes because one of their relatives developed the disease. This section explains:

• Why have just one, or two parents with cancer
  normally does not mean that there is a genetic hereditary in your family.
• This we know about the causes of breast cancer.
• What you can do to help.

Cancer Genes family history /

Genes are the carriers of biological information that we inherit from our parents. They affect how our bodies grow, work and watch. The changes (mutations) in certain genes may increase the risk of breast cancer among family members who inherit the change Genetics. But only a small number of breast cancers are probably due to an altered gene running inherited the family.

Two modifications of genes – called BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations – can run in families and increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer | de those family members who inherit the genetic modification. But they are not common.

How does my family history affect the risk of developing breast cancer?

It is likely that only a genetic mutation that may increase your risk of breast cancer is present in your family if you have:

• three close relatives on the same side of the family (your mother or your father's household) who developed breast cancer at any age
• two close relatives of the same side of the family who developed breast cancer under 60
• one close relative who developed breast cancer at age 40 or under
• breast and ovarian cancer on the same side of the family or a male relative with breast cancer, or a close relative with cancer in both breasts.

Your family is your mother, sisters or daughters. They are sometimes known to your loved ones in the first degree.

If your family is like that, and you are worried about developing breast cancer, you can talk to your GP. They will ask you questions about your family history. If you have a family history of cancer any unusual childhood cancer or you have Jewish ancestry or ethnic origin other (where a defective gene breast cancer is more common), you should mention that your GP. If your doctor thinks there is a chance that you may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer due to family history, they refer to a genetic counselor, clinical cancer family or a cancer specialist.

All women, when they are 50, are invited to join the NHS Breast Screening Programme | and offered three mammograms per year until they reach 70. Women seem to have inherited an increased risk of breast cancer may be offered mammograms per year, and sometimes the MRI from a earlier age.

If you have only one report of middle age or older who developed breast cancer, or a case of breast cancer on either side of your family, it does not significantly increase the risk. If you had one or ovarian cancer genes within your family, then it is likely that more than one parent on the same side of the family have developed ovarian or breast cancer.

If you are worried about the appearance of breast cancer and / or ovarian cancer in your family and if there could be an inherited genetic link, OPERA | is an online interactive software that will give you personalized information and support in the comfort of your own home.

If you are still worried

It can be a normal reaction to serious illness in the family, or grief, to feel more vulnerable to the disease itself. If you do can not stop worrying, you may find it useful to consult a counselor who can help you get things in perspective. You can ask your GP, or call our nurses | for details of a local service. You can also call the Cancer Counselling Trust | talking counselor.

Mind |, the charity Mental Health has published a booklet entitled "How to Stop Worrying".

Cancer risk

The cause of most breast cancers is not known. But we know that some things – known risk factors – can increase our chances developing cancer. Some risk factors are very likely to cause the cancer, while others will only slightly increase our chances to obtain.

Having a particular risk factor for cancer, or are exposed to, does not mean that we will definitely get cancer, while like not having that does not mean we will not. Smoking is a good example of this. If you smoke, it is not certain that you will get lung cancer, as if you do not smoke, it is not certain that you will not. But smoking greatly increase your risk of lung cancer. Nine out of ten who develop lung cancer are smokers.

Cancer is very common and nearly 1 in 3 of us to grow at a time of our life. This means that most of us have relatives who have had cancer. Surveys have shown that many people are worried that a history of cancer in their family significantly increases the risk. Often people worry that the increased risk of cancer can be hereditary, or transmitted from generation to another. In fact, fewer than 1 in 10 cancer cases (between 5 and 10%) were found to be due to family history disease.

Other risk factors

Other risk factors in the development of breast cancer may play a more important history family.

Age

Breast cancer is predominantly a disease of older women and is rare in women under 50. Only 1 woman 9 will have breast cancer in their lifetime, but the older you are, the more likely you will develop the disease. In more than half of breast cancers occur among women in the United Kingdom over 65 years. Women under age 50 is significantly lower risk of contracting breast cancer than older women, and women under 40 have a risk even lower.

Hormone levels

There is some evidence that the years a woman has had periods, and is therefore exposed the female hormone estrogen, the more vulnerable it is to breast cancer. This means that you can have an increased risk of developing breast cancer if you:

• started your period at an early age (under 12)
• had a late menopause (after 50)
• have not had children or had children after having had 30
• not breastfed or breastfed for at least 12 months in total.

The pill

The pill slightly increases the risk of a woman contracting breast cancer. Risk decreases again after stopping the pill.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

It is proven that women over 50 years who take HRT increase their risk of developing breast cancer. The risk begins to increase after 1-2 years of HRT use, and is increasing the most HRT is used. Combined HRT increases the risk more than estrogen alone. Risk begins to decline when HRT is stopped and is believed to be back normal around five years after stopping.

Obesity

Being overweight, especially after menopause, is a factor risk of breast cancer. This seems to be that overweight people have different hormone levels compared to those of normal weight.

The Lack of exercise

There is evidence that regular exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer in women. This could be because the activity Physical regulates hormone levels in women.

Alcohol

Drinking excessive alcohol consumption appears to increase the risk of cancer among women. The European code against cancer recommends reducing their risk of developing cancer of women should not drink more than one unit of alcohol day. A unit is half a pint of ordinary strength beer, lager or cider or a small glass (125 ml) of wine or a single measure (25ml) of spirits.

Other possible risk factors

It has been suggested that special diets, supplements and some deodorants increase the risk of developing breast cancer. However, there are insufficient data to substantiate these allegations. Scientists are studying many factors as possible, but until now, the risk factors listed in this leaflet are the only ones where there is good evidence.

Reduce your risk

Although many known risk of breast cancer are beyond our control there are other risk factors known as risk factors of lifestyle you can control. It has been estimated that about half (50%) of all cancers diagnosed in the United Kingdom could be prevented if people have changed their lifestyles. These changes do not mean that you, certainly not cancer – but they make it less likely. So, here are some things that you might consider:

Take a little regular exercise

You do not need to go to the gym – walking, cycling or gardening, is regularly suffice.

Try to maintain a healthy weight

Eat a balanced | Diet, which contains lots of fruits and vegetables, can help. Your doctor may give you more advice.

Avoid smoking and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

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Although these changes may reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, they do not guarantee that you will not get cancer. But all the above strategies will improve your overall health.

Signs and symptoms

Breast cancer, when it is detected early, can be treated successfully. Unfortunately, early signs of breast cancer can be difficult to detect and are often unclear. You should see your doctor if you have:

• A change to the outline or shape of the breast
• lumps or bumpy areas
• nipple discharge that is new to you and not milky
• feelings of discomfort or pain in a breast that is different from normal (many women say their breasts are softer or a little lumpy just before their period).

In most cases, changes in your breasts does not mean you have cancer. But it is good to see your doctor. There is no reason why you feel you're wasting your time with your doctor if you have discovered a change in your breasts.

Regular checks and screening for breast cancer

Women over 50 are invited to join the national screening program and a mammogram (breast X-ray) every three years until they reach 70 years. Women age 70 and over can continue to have mammograms regularly communicating with their family doctor, who will appointment in a cancer screening clinic. From 2010 all women aged between 47 and 73 will be called for regular breast screening.

Mammography can help detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat.

We have more information on title = "Screening" of cancer screening. "

About the Author

I am the owner of Generations and Companions Care Services. I run a domestic Cleaning Service in Ellesmere port and surroundind areas. I am waiting to registar as a domiciliary care service. For more advice on health issues chat at my social page at my website http://generationsandcompanionscare.yolasite.com

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