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The Lifestyle Effects That Link To Breast Cancer

Olga Suprunchik

English IV Honors
Ms.Fender

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The Lifestyle Effects That Link To Breast Cancer

I. Introduction
A. Breast cancer is a disease that based on the growth of malignant cells in the breast
and mammary glands, and with that there are risk factors that affect the increase in
risk of developing breast cancer.
II. Genetics
A. Family History
B. Mutations
C. Estrogen Hormone
III. Health
A. Obesity
B. Healthy diet
IV. Lifestyle
A.
B.
C.
D.

Stress
Alcohol
Smoking
Existing diseases and illnesses
V. Factors that do not increase breast cancer risk

A. Abortion
B. Miscarriages
C. Bras

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VI. Diagnosis
VII. Conclusion

Breast cancer is a disease that based on the growth of malignant cells in the breast
and mammary glands, and with that there are risk factors that affect the increase in risk of
developing breast cancer. Most cancers in women are formed or detected closely before,

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during, or after menopause. This is a process mainly in women in the ages of fifty and
older. In the twentieth century breast cancer was one of the leading causes of death in
women, but this has only remained mainly in the less developed countries that don't have
access to advanced medicine and cannot be detected in the appropriate amount of time.
Breast cancer is not only found in women, there have been a number of males that have
been stuck by the disease as well. Not one person really knows the exact causes of Breast
cancer, and many of the people online are giving their best guesses. But we know that
genetic components and environmental factors are a definite factor that makes a risk of
developing the disease magnified.

For genetic breast cancer, inherited mutations come about in one of two specific
genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. These two types of inherited mutations are reportedly
responsible for at least half of the cases that are detected for breast cancer. The BRCA1
and BRCA2 genes both encode protein products believed to function in the pathways
responsible for sensing and responding to DNA damage in cells. Women in general have
about a ten percent risk of developing breast cancer in their life. Half of women with the
inherited genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 have a very high likely risk of developing breast
cancer by the age of fifty, and ninety percent will develop the disease by eighty. Women
with BRCA1 mutations are also at increased risk to develop ovarian tumors

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along with breast cancer. Both men and women who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations,
personally affected or not, can pass the mutated gene to their children and future
generations, although carrier daughters are much more likely than carrier sons to develop
breast cancer. Along with BRCA, and BRCA2 there are other mutations that can be
inherited and acquired that have been linked to breast cancer such as HER2, CHEK2, and
p53. Mutations that are inherited often significantly increase a persons risk for
developing breast cancer. Men carrying the BRCA1 mutation have a one to two percent
risk of developing breast cancer, but only about five to ten percent of men with the
BRCA2 mutation have a risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetimes.

The overexposure of the hormone estrogen is also a major factor that starts and
early onset for developing breast cancer. This can start as earlier than twelve when
menstruation begins can go beyond the age of fifty and can be prolonged more than usual
depending on how early you start menstruation and how long your body continues with
it. In postmenopausal women, breast cancer risk is increased markedly by elevated
circulating concentrations of sex hormones (estrogens and androgens). Concentrations of
these hormones have been found to be abnormally high in postmenopausal women who
are obese, who drink alcohol, or who smoke.

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There is no certainty to the relationship between a person's diet and breast cancer.
A High fats diet is suspected to contribute to breast cancer and this is based on the
connection with fat intake and breast cancer rates. But this connection can not be
confirmed without large studies being done and have taken place. Although a high fats
diet isn't a proven risk it's still best a good diet with high fruits and vegetables count. The
hormone estrogen is stored in fat of the body and the buildup of estrogen is a factor of
more likely developing cancer. The estrogen in the body makes the cancer cells eat more
and what they eat is sugars. Many of those sugars are in fat buildups and the estrogen
stored in the fat make the cancer want more, so in all it's a never ending cycle. There have
been many recent and eager searches for soy foods and products to fight and protect
against breast cancer in the world. There are such things as soy isoflavones which are
estrogen-like compounds. Isoflavones appear to compete with estrogen in premenopausal
women and they dulls the effect; when in a low-estrogen environment (e.g., in
postmenopausal women) they exert weak estrogenic effects. Although Japanese women,
who have low breast cancer rates, have a lifelong exposure to high dietary soy, their
situation is not necessarily comparable to midlife supplementation with soy isoflavones
(estrogen-like compounds) in Western women. There is as yet no consistent evidence that
soy in the diet offers protection against breast cancer or any other cancer; and the effects
of dietary soy once cancer has been initiated are unknown (estrogen itself is a cancer
promoter). But there is still continuing research on if soy is really beneficial, and so far

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consumption of soy is still encouraged, but consumption of isolated soy constituents,

which have unknown risks, is not guaranteed to be safe.

There has only been one large study that has supported the link in life events and
breast cancer risk but, most studies do not support a link between the two. But there are
certain life events that increase stress and even if it's not proven that stress is link for
breast cancer, stress can lead to the overconsumption of alcohol and smoking. A patient
that shared her personal story of this kind of situation said that when she was going
through a hard and painful divorce, she had turned to drinking to compensate her.
Partaking in drinking alcohol also increases the risk for breast cancer, especially in people
who are heavy drinkers. There have been as many as 53 studies that have been performed
to prove this as well. For every drink consumed a day, the increased risk of getting breast
cancer goes up 7 percent, and for every 2 or more drinks a day the risk is increased by 20
percent compared to women who do not drink at all. Alcohol changes the way estrogen is
metabolized and how its used in the body, this increases estrogen levels which as we
have already discussed is also a risk factor. No one should drink a lot of alcohol in the
first place. I do understand low amounts of alcohol are okay, it is even believed to lower
heart disease, high blood pressure and death. But that is only if you are drinking
responsibly and moderately. But, drinking more than one drink per day has no health
benefits and many serious health risks, including breast cancer.
Smoking long term and early on in life definitely increase risk in life later on. Its
bad for the health and should not be done and while there have been studies done that

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proves it is a direct link to breast cancer, there are also contradicting studies that prove
otherwise. Women who smoke are more likely than non-smokers to be thin, have lower
blood estrogen levels and be younger at menopause. All of these factors can lower breast
cancer risk. But overall that is a habit that is better to stay away from, just from all the
risks and to maintain good health.
Existing diseases and illnesses can increase the chance of breast cancer. Heart
problems and other diseases like lupus that make the body weak are big factors. Some
diseases and illnesses can shut the body down making it weaker and more susceptible to
breast cancer. Also having other types of cancer can increase risk from radiation and
chemo treatments they must take. The radiation and chemo treatments do a lot of cellular
damage and create ions and oxidants which also damage cells. Women who have had
benign tumors are also more prone to developing breast cancer. There are certain benign
breast diseases that expand risks, proliferative and nonproliferative. Proliferative are
diseases that have fast growing cells is the type more likely to lead to breast cancer. Two
types of proliferators are two types of hyperplasia: usual hyperplasia (more common) and
atypical hyperplasia (less common). In usual hyperplasia the proliferating (dividing) cells
look normal under a microscope. Women with usual hyperplasia have about twice the
breast cancer risk. In atypical hyperplasia, the proliferating (dividing) cells look
abnormal. Atypical hyperplasia is the less common of the two hyperplasia. Women with
atypical hyperplasia have about 3-5 times the breast cancer risk. One study found women
diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia had about a 29 percent chance of developing breast
cancer within 25 years. Women with atypical hyperplasia should:

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Have a mammogram every year

Have a clinical breast exam every 6-12 months
Talk with their healthcare providers about screening with breast MRI
This helps ensure that if breast cancer does develop, it is caught early when the chances
of survival are highest. Women should get health screenings and checkups every year to
catch early signs.

Many factors have been studied to see whether or not they increase the risk of
breast cancer. Some of these factors have been proven to not have anything to do with
breast cancer and do not increase (or in some cases, decrease) risk at all. Research clearly
shows no link between abortion and breast cancer risk. Since 2003, the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
have all agreed that the scientific evidence does not support or show a link between
abortion and breast cancer and has continued to review this study and agreed with it
every time. The few studies done to prove that they are linked have had some faulty and
inaccurate results that are questionable. This is due to the fragility of the subject and
some women are not comfortable to share this information when they are diagnosed with
breast cancer. Cohort studies will give better results on the studies because they gather
information before women are diagnosed with full permission. This limits biased
reporting. Through these studies is how we came about the results and conclusions that
abortions and breast cancer are not linked. Another version of abortion is induced
abortion after a baby dies in the womb and has to be induced labor for the baby to be

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stillborn. This leads into another myth that miscarriages and stillborn increase breast
cancer risk, this is also proven to be a myth through cohort studies. There have been
speculations whether bras and underwire of bras are a factor and this has also been
proven incorrect, as there is no scientific evidence linking them and there is no biological
correlation between the two. This unproven factor was most likely started in 1991, when
a study that was done showed that women who admitted to not likely wearing a bra were
lower at risk at developing breast cancer than women who did wear bras. But the authors
of the study stated that the link was probably due to who was wearing the bra then
wearing the bra in and of itself, as most of the ladies not wearing bras were thin smaller
women. There are other smaller studies done such as, the deodorants people wear have
chemicals that seep into the skin that is a link, that are all proven false.

The best way to look for the most obvious symptom is to check for an abnormal
lump in the breast or under arm or swelling in the breast, abnormal nipple discharge,
changes in the texture or the skin on the breast. This may be discovered by the patient
during a regular breast self-examination. When a self-exam is performed on a
monthly basis, a woman becomes familiar with her breasts and can readily detect
an abnormal change, such as a lump, a swelling, dimpling, or a change in
contour. But don't panic if at every slight change not every change is a sign of
breast cancer, especially not when you are about to start your menstrual cycle
because swelling and tenderness of the breast is normal around that time. But if

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its a big change or you would like clarification then you may ask a physician.
Early diagnosis greatly improves the odds of survival. When detected early,
breast cancer has a very high five-year survival rate, and patients who reach this
stage often go on to live long, healthy lives.
Women should be screened every year after they turn forty and earlier if
you have a family history of breast cancer. Keep up the healthy lifestyle and try
not to take medication that might increase estrogen levels. Be educated on what
signs to look for and what causes are myths about breast cancer.

Citation
Robinson, Arthur. "Human Genetic Disease - Genetics of Cancer." Encyclopedia
Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2004. Web. 20 Nov. 2016.
"Breast Cancer." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 24
Aug. 2016. Web. 20 Nov. 2016.

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"Factors Affecting Breast Cancer Risk." Factors Affecting Breast Cancer Risk |
Susan G. Komen. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
"Alcohol." Susan G. Komen. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.