Causes of breast cancer that would shock you

Daniel Chukwuemeka Okwum

What is Cancer?

Source: UN women in Asia and the Pacific 

Cancer tumors are caused by an excessive and uncontrolled division of abnormal body cells. The breast is part of the body. Every part of the body has specialized cells that formed it. These cells are programmed by nature to follow a normal pattern of division until that pace get interrupted by abnormal cells which then begin to increase excessively and possibly spread to other parts of the body. A number of factors may produce such abnormal cells and dictate their rate of division in the body. These factors are regarded as risk factors of cancer irrespective of what part of the body it is found. 

Causes of breast cancer 

Breast cancer may not have a specific cause; there are a number of possible causes or risk factors that may increase the chance of having it. Such risk factors are age, family history and personal health history. Others include lifestyle, choice of food, weight, radiation, breast density, and abuse of hormonal medications.

Age

Age is the most potent risk factor for cancer. The older one becomes the more chance of having it. This does not necessarily imply that younger people do not get cancer but the incidence is low. Research has it that about 65% of persons living with cancer in the United Kingdom are not less than 65 years of age.

Heredity 

Heredity is the passing of physical and mental features genetically from one generation to another. Cancer is hereditary in nature as persons connected to a bloodline where someone has it are at risk of coming down with it. That is if one’s mother, aunt or sister has a cancer or lump whether of the breast, ovaries or any other, the risk to having it is increased.

Personal health history

There is increased risk of reoccurrence of cancer in a person who once had it and got cured. It could be cancer of the breast or lump, of the ovaries or any other.

Feminism

Being a female is also a predisposing factor. This does not directly imply that breasted men cannot have cancer, but the possibility is very low.

Source: By UN women in Asia and the Pacific

Lifestyle

The choice of lifestyle could be a predisposing factor to having cancer. Women who consume alcohol, smoke, feed on foods with high fat content are at risk if they do not exercise regularly.

Weight

Being overweight (obese) is a risk factor of direct proportionality- The higher your weight goes, the higher the possibility of having cancer.

Dense breast

Women who do not have their breast well pressed and sucked are at risk of cancer. Some women are of the opinion that being too liberal with their boobs to their children will make it flatted out too early. Adequate massaging and sucking of the breast may help to reduce its density.

Hormonal pills

Abuse of contraceptives, and post menopausal hormone drugs are possible risk factors that predispose women to cancer. Such drugs are better used when prescribed by a doctor, especially a gyna or an obstetrician.

Exposure to radiation

Excessive exposure to nuclear and electromagnetic radiations may induce cancer. Such radiation may include visible light rays, ultraviolet rays, gamma rays, x-rays, radio waves and microwaves. After many years, Japan is yet to recover from the issue of cancer following the excessive exposure of her citizens in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to enormous gamma rays during the second world war, when the very first atomic bombs, with the code name “Little boy” were dropped by American  air force, 1945.

NB: The insignificant and calculated quantity of x-ray administered to you during routine x-ray examinations in the hospital is not capable of inducing cancer.